In Spanish: How to Keep the Workplace Safe

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workplaceWorkplace death rates are higher among Hispanics than other racial/ethnic groups, especially among Spanish speakers.

Hispanics often work in higher-risk industries, including agriculture and construction, and they face cultural and language barriers, which undermine “the effectiveness of safety materials and hazard warnings printed in a language they don’t speak or read,” the Albuquerque Journal reports.

This makes Spanish-language safety materials critically important.

So the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has a Spanish website with workplace safety materials, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has a wealth of Spanish publications and other resources for employers and employees.

Employers are urged to review these Spanish materials with their Spanish-speaking employees.

“The employer should reinforce written messages with visual materials and hands-on demonstrations and encourage workers to discuss and exchange safety information among themselves. Trainers should observe whether workers appear to understand the safety information being delivered. If necessary, bilingual workers should help translate anything that seems confusing,” according to the Journal.

“The most proactive employers make sure key supervisors are trained in conversational and industry-specific Spanish and offer incentives for Hispanic workers to take English classes.”

By The Numbers By The Numbers

25.1

percent

of Latinos remain without health insurance coverage

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