When Workers Don't Speak English



Health and safety issues mount when workers don't speak English
Your workers who speak English haltingly or not at all face safety risks not comprehended by your workers who are fluent in English. When a medical emergency or accident occurs, how will you find out from a non-English speaker what is going on? What about evaluating an injury sustained by a person who doesn't speak English? For that matter, how much of your safety classes do your workers with a language barrier really understand? Depending on the size of your business, you may have staff assigned to deal with language classes. One hospital, with more than 3,000 employees and 60,000 patients a year plus a federal mandate requiring health care to be delivered in the language of the patient, supports a department dedicated to dealing with cross-cultural issues. "We're getting calls on a regular basis for someone to interpret for individuals from over thirty different languages," the hospitality director at a major hospital told HealthWorks. A contract network of provides local persons who can translate in Spanish and other language. In addition, the hospital turns to Language Line, a service that connects the speaker and interpreter with the hospital representative. The language team uses an approach that aims to put the person at ease. For example, the doctor may say, "What do I need to know about you to give you the care you need?" In the workplace the question might be, "What can you tell me about yourself so I can give you work that you can handle well?" Political refugees who have fled their home country are protected by the federal government and met at the airport by a case worker. An Office for Refugees helps them find lodging, jobs, and language classes for nine months. Most people adjust to the local culture within three years, although children can become fully acclimated in as little as three months. A few, mostly older folks, never make the complete transition to our complex and ever-changing society. Culture barriers thrust themselves into work relationships at every level. Many of these barriers are related to proficiency in the English language. An investment in skill and funding can reach across these barriers. Communicating clearly with all employees about your safety standards and policies pays off many times over with a safer workforce. Copyright © 2008 by Griffith Publishing 800 359-9503 Watch these pages grow!			More about... Reliable resources for work-related health information Blogs for a safe and healthy workplace Free tools for your health and safety programs Directory of health and safety info on the Web from JG and HealthWorks How we can help and who we are THINKING POINTS Companies have been able to cut injury rates by offering English classes at work. Circadian. Language barriers hurt health and progress in the workplace. The DesMoines Register. Could immigrating to the United States be hazardous to one's health? UCLA Public Health. The lack of education, low literacy and language barriers compound difficulty related to comprehension of basic medical information. U.S. Committee on Ways and Means.