A Reuters/Ipsos poll of 12,000 workers in 24 countries has found that 1 in 10 workers has been the target of sexual harassment by a worker in a senior position.

The survey determined that workers in India were most likely to report having been sexually harassed, with 26 percent of those polled saying they were hit on by a boss. Chinese workers came second, with 18 percent of respondents saying they had been sexually harassed.

Rounding out the top five countries were Saudi Arabia at 16 percent, Mexico at 13 percent and South Africa at 10 percent. Eight percent of US workers and six percent of Canadian respondents said they had been sexually propositioned by a co-worker who was senior to them.

Sweden and France had the lowest incidence of sexual harassment, with only three percent of workers reporting having experienced it.

The poll found that workers younger than age 35 were most likely to report sexual harassment.

Most companies have written health and safety materials. But if workers can’t read or understand those materials, they’re useless. So companies should take steps to address literacy issues in the workplace in order to improve health and safety.

One step a company can take is to collect all of its formal and informal OHS policies, including all written procedures and practices, and examine these in the context of a worker with low literacy levels. Review the documents carefully, noting the language used and the degree of literacy or basic skills required to read and understand them. Note any documents that are too complex or difficult to be read and understood by a worker with lower literacy or basic skills, and then revise or rewrite the policies and practices to suit a worker with lower literacy or basic skills.

A Model Checklist to create a plan for addressing literacy issues in your workplace – based on the recommendations from “What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You: Literacy’s Impact on Workplace Health and Safety” – is available here to members of www.OHSInsider.com.

All workers, including those with high literacy levels, can benefit from receiving safety and health information in a form that’s easy to understand and use. Concise, straightforward safety information means fewer injuries.

To be effective, your safety messages must be worded plainly. Plain language is clear writing. It means presenting essential information in a simple, direct manner.

These are characteristics of a plain, understandable safety message:

• Short.
• Clear.
• Well-organized.
• Technical terms are explained.
• Ordinary words are used instead of jargon.

Safety information must also be proofread carefully to catch any mistakes. When information is translated, it should be reviewed carefully by someone with a solid knowledge of the safety issues involved.

Plain language is becoming an essential business and safety tool. Are your policies, procedures, labels, signs and safety memos easy to understand?