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| Ties Between Worker Literacy and Workplace Safety |
One of the bedrocks of workplace safety is to have written health and safety rules, procedures, policies, manuals, etc. But these written documents are no good if your workers can’t read or understand them. Yet employers often either ignore literacy issues in their workplaces or don’t see illiteracy as their problem. Unfortunately, illiterate workers (or those who are new to the country and thus have weak English language skills) are at risk if they can’t read or understand your safety policies – and they may endanger other workers as well.
A recent report indicates that an overreliance on written safety materials and less attention to literacy training may be putting workers at risk.
“What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You: Literacy’s Impact on Workplace Health and Safety” summarizes the results of a two-year research project that examined the impact of literacy skills on workplace health and safety. Survey respondents provided examples of health and safety risks and actual incidents in the workplace that they felt were connected to literacy issues. Although respondents gave high ratings to the importance of literacy skills in the workplace, training to build these skills wasn’t always available through their workplace.
As part of this research project, 10 workplace literacy and learning programs were studied and analyzed for positive impacts on workplace health and safety. The research found that workers with low literacy or language skills, who are assisted in improving their skills, are better able to act and react to workplace safety incidents in accordance with approved health and safety measures. They’re also better equipped to understand their own right to refuse work that’s potentially unsafe. |
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| Picture This! |
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| Pick-up trucks are great for moving everything from refrigerators to sofas, but they surely are not meant to move more than two tons of cement, aggregate and sand in one load. Fortunately, no one was hurt when this truck’s axle broke under the weight. (WorkSafe Victoria, Australia) |
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| Global Survey Says 10 Percent of Workers Sexually Harassed |
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.
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| Safety, Plain and Simple |
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?
SafetySmart Online has several tools to help safety coordinators communicate effectively – as well as some examples of how not to communicate, such as these Mangled Memos. (Subscription to SafetySmart Online is required to access this page.)
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You responded:
44.2% said Yes, I believe it’s quite possible
55.8% said No, I think it’s highly unlikely
Your Comments Here:
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This week we’d like to ask you: |
Have there been any safety-related incidents in your workplace that you feel were connected to literacy issues? |
Vote in the Reader Poll here.
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