In this post, we explore the impact of language barriers on workplace safety. We also share some practical steps you can take to address language barriers at work.
What happens when teams can’t communicate effectively?
Productivity suffers, collaboration becomes impossible, and employees grow increasingly dissatisfied. And, if there’s a language barrier at play, your employees’ safety is at risk.
The US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) estimates that 25% of workplace accidents are caused by language barriers. That’s a worryingly large number!
If you employ a linguistically diverse workforce, dismantling language barriers must be a priority — and we’ll show you how to do so in this post.
How do language barriers impact workplace safety?
Today’s workforce is more linguistically diverse than ever. In 2022, 18.1% of the US labor force was foreign-born, and more than 67 million US residents speak a language other than English at home.
Many people will find themselves working in a language that’s not their native tongue. This can lead to language barriers between teammates, and it can impact employees’ access to, and comprehension of, safety-related policies, guidelines, and processes.
This is where language barriers pose a huge risk to workplace safety. Language barriers may result in:
- Miscommunication: if employees cannot communicate proficiently in a common language, misunderstandings arise and critical information gets lost. As a result, employees may struggle to communicate when job-site conditions are unsafe.
- Misinterpretation of safety protocols: if safety training and guidance are provided in just one language, they may be less effective for employees with limited comprehension of that language.
- Increased risk of accidents and injuries: 25% of job-related accidents cite language barriers as a contributing factor.
- Delayed response to emergencies: language barriers may impede quick and accurate communication in the event of emergency, hindering timely and appropriate responses.
Not only do language barriers pose a threat to employees’ physical safety; they can impact their psychological safety, too. Psychological safety is built on trust, open and respectful communication, transparency, clear expectations, and a sense of inclusion and belonging.
If your employees don’t have equal access to important information — or if they feel excluded because of language barriers — they won’t feel psychologically safe. As such, dismantling language barriers is crucial for ensuring both physical and emotional well-being at work.
What can employers do to tackle language barriers at work?
Here are some actionable steps you can take to address language barriers and improve workplace safety:
1. Understand what languages are spoken by your employees
If you’re employing a linguistically diverse workforce, it’s important to understand what languages your employees are proficient in. This will enable you to cater to all language needs within your workplace.
Consider sending out an anonymous survey to understand the linguistic make-up of your team, or ask employees to update their language preferences and abilities in your HR software.
2. Provide health and safety training in multiple languages
Once you’ve got an overview of the languages spoken by your employees, invest in translating all important documents, manuals, and safety guidelines into multiple languages. At the same time, provide multilingual health and safety training.
The goal is to ensure that everybody has equal access to all the information they need to do their job safely.
3. Use multilingual signage
In addition to official safety protocols and training, on-site signage can play an important role in workplace safety. Make sure that all signage is displayed in multiple languages. Where possible, use visual aids such as diagrams and universally recognized symbols to enhance communication and comprehension.
4. Improve on-the-job communication with language training
If you truly want to tackle language barriers in the workplace, you need to empower your employees to communicate effectively with each other.
Company language training will help to develop multilingual proficiency among your workforce, enhancing interpersonal communication and improving workplace safety as a result.
In fact, language training is your most effective tool for addressing language barriers. Let’s take a closer look at why it’s so important.
How language training helps to improve safety in the workplace
The US Occupational Safety and Health Administration requires employers to provide training in a language that employees can understand — but multilingual training and documents are just a drop in the ocean.
Improving workplace safety requires effective communication on the job.
Employees must be able to communicate clearly and accurately with each other in different everyday scenarios — for example, being able to confidently give and receive instructions, share concerns, and inform others if there’s a health and safety issue.
And note that the onus shouldn’t only be on non-native English speakers to learn English. Communication is a two-way street, and English speakers should also be encouraged to learn their co-workers’ languages.
The benefits of language learning for workplace safety are manifold. When you train a multilingual workplace, you’ll ensure:
- Better communication: when all employees are proficient in common languages, they are able to communicate with clarity and reduce misunderstandings. This ensures that unsafe working environments and emergency situations can be rectified and responded to quickly.
- Enhanced understanding of safety protocols: improving your employees’ language abilities is about providing equal access to, and understanding of, safety protocols and guidelines — empowering all team members to carry out their work safely.
- Improved teamwork: language and communication are the most powerful tools for collaboration. With the removal of language barriers, employees can actively participate in safety discussions, have equal opportunities to contribute and be heard, and establish trust and rapport with their teammates. That’s crucial not only for workplace safety, but also for productivity and well-being.
Language training is critical for addressing language barriers and improving workplace safety. But what if your efforts are met with resistance? Let’s consider some of the challenges you might face with corporate language training — and potential solutions.
Challenges you might face when introducing language training — and how to overcome them
Challenge #1: Employee resistance and lack of support from management
Employees may be resistant to the idea of language training due to factors such as time, perceived difficulty, lack of confidence, or lack of motivation. And, if managers don’t actively support and encourage their teams’ language-learning efforts, employees will be even less inclined to take it seriously.
The solution: Communicate the benefits and lead by example
If you want to get buy-in for corporate language training, it’s important to communicate the benefits.
Emphasize the role that language learning plays in dismantling language barriers and improving workplace safety. You can cite additional benefits, too — such as how learning a new language develops critical soft skills and boosts business performance.
Encourage managers to lead by example and actively participate in language training. This reinforces the importance of language learning and encourages employees to make it a priority. You can also support your employees by carving out dedicated professional development time within the working week.
Challenge #2: Budget and resource constraints
If you’ve got a limited budget, you might struggle to find a solution that’s within your means — or to get a language-learning budget approved. But corporate language training doesn’t have to break the bank.
The solution: Cost-effective language training
Many corporate language training providers offer multiple solutions, allowing you to find a program that best aligns with your budget.
With Babbel for Business, you can choose a combination of classes with certified teachers and learning through the Babbel platform that features podcasts, games, and supplemental reading material. Whatever your budget, there’s a language solution that fits. You can learn more about our blended learning approach here.
Challenge #3: Adapting to ever-changing workforce demographics
You want to invest in corporate language training but you don’t want to be stuck with a solution that your company might outgrow. If your company is expanding, diversifying, or growing more international, your language needs will change — so how can you stay agile and adaptable?
The solution: Flexible and scalable language programs
When implementing corporate language training, it’s important to plan for changing workforce demographics. Opt for flexible language-learning solutions that can be dialed up or down depending on your needs, and make sure that learning pathways can be personalized to individual employees.
The takeaway
Language barriers pose a major risk to workplace safety. In order to carry out their jobs safely and communicate effectively, all employees must be able to share a common language.
And remember: addressing language barriers isn’t just about physical safety. It also helps to foster inclusion, belonging, and psychological safety — all of which are crucial for employee well-being and productivity.
Are you ready to tackle language barriers and improve workplace safety? Take the first step today with Babbel for Business. With our blended learning solution, your team will enjoy the best of both worlds: individual learning via our online platform, plus group video lessons to improve verbal communication. And, with lots of safety-specific content, you can prioritize workplace safety in your language-learning efforts.
