Responding is Meredith Silver, director of B2B, Americas, Babbel for Business, Portland, ME.

Safety in the workplace goes beyond the avoidance of physical harm. It encompasses a space where every employee feels understood, valued and confidently equipped to handle their day-to-day responsibilities.

However, language barriers can be the culprit behind safety mishaps, misinterpretations of safety procedures and ineffective emergency responses in high-risk industries. The remedy? A strategic implementation of language learning as part of an organization’s safety protocol.

Safety instructions are essential for the smooth performance of daily tasks, especially for high-risk industries, and the necessity of understanding these safety instructions is paramount. Employees who struggle to comprehend the language in which safety instructions are given may be at greater risk of being involved in a workplace incident.

Investing in language learning for employees is a proactive approach to creating a safe workplace.

Compliance with safety regulations

Navigating the world of safety regulations demands precision, understanding and diligence. Language plays a critical role in this process, as it conveys the complexities of these regulations to workers.

Safety regulations often come with a linguistic mandate – a requirement that instructions, procedures and hazard communication be understandable to workers who must comply with them. For instance, in the United States, OSHA requires employers to provide training and hazard information in a language and vocabulary employees can understand.

These language requirements are essential components of workplace safety designed to ensure every employee, regardless of their linguistic background, has equal access to safety knowledge.

Emergency preparedness and response

Emergencies are inherently disorienting, and it’s during these times that language proficiency becomes a lifeline. Whether it’s a fire, chemical spill or medical emergency, the immediacy with which instructions are understood can save lives.

In a multilingual workforce, the challenge is to convey urgent information to everyone quickly. Language training for emergency response doesn’t only prepare employees to follow instructions – it empowers them to act as first responders. When employees are proficient in the languages used in their workplace, they can identify and communicate hazards, coordinate with emergency services, and provide crucial on-the-spot assistance.

Minimize miscommunication to prevent incidents

Miscommunication in the workplace doesn’t only risk the health and safety of employees – it can also lead to significant financial losses. Misunderstandings can result in incidents that damage equipment, halt production, and incur medical and legal expenses.

Language training addresses this risk head-on by equipping employees with the necessary language skills to navigate their work environment safely. This training goes beyond basic communication and extends into the realm of industry-specific terminology and context, which is pivotal for understanding safety protocols and accurately reporting potential hazards.

Improve communication and empower teams

In embracing language learning, employers aren’t only adhering to legal mandates, they’re also fostering an inclusive culture that values every employee’s contribution to safety. This commitment to multilingualism in safety protocols is a clear signal to employees that their safety is paramount, improving overall trust with their employer and enhancing the safety culture of the organization.

As employers continue to navigate the complexities of a global workforce, the integration of language learning into safety strategies stands as a commitment to preserving the most valuable asset of any organization: the health and safety of its people.

Editor's note: This article represents the independent views of the author and should not be considered a National Safety Council endorsement.