| Many Hispanic employees do not understand English | | | | bosses and they may place their jobs at risk. |
| well enough to be thoroughly trained and most | | | | Most first generation, front line Hispanic employees |
| managers and supervisors do not speak Spanish well | | | | come from countries where they don't have federal |
| enough to train the Hispanic workforce. There are | | | | regulations that deal with safety in the workplace. Also, |
| over 45 million Hispanics living in the United States | | | | their concept of safety is radically different than that |
| today. This is approximately 15% of the entire | | | | of the safety standards imposed on the American |
| population and constitutes the largest minority. The | | | | workplaces. For example, it is not unusual to see |
| figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show that | | | | Hispanic workers building a roof, working past twilight |
| there are about 19.6 million Hispanics gainfully employed | | | | without adequate protective equipment or adequate |
| in America's workplaces. Most first generation, | | | | lighting? |
| non-English fluent Hispanics are involved in front line | | | | It is therefore up to the employer to establish a well laid |
| positions, such as machine operators, maintenance and | | | | out safety plan and communicate it at all levels of the |
| general laborers. | | | | Hispanic workforce. The training must be delivered in |
| Since the year 2000, there have been 800 to 900 | | | | Spanish and at the level of Spanish they are familiar |
| fatalities per year among Hispanic workers. Most | | | | with and understand. Much too often the safety |
| injuries are due to falls, transportation incidents and | | | | policies and training programs are translated into |
| being hit by objects or equipment. The fact that | | | | Spanish but; at a level that is meant for college |
| Hispanics have the highest rate of workplace related | | | | graduates. |
| injuries and fatalities is cause for great concern. In | | | | To ensure acceptance and understanding of the |
| addition to the emotional pain, there are medical | | | | safety program, make sure that your managers and |
| expenses, absenteeism and loss of productivity. | | | | supervisors check for understanding. Regular safety |
| First generation, Hispanic employees are often | | | | meetings, recognition of safety signs and role playing |
| unaware of safety regulations or violations because of | | | | are excellent methods of ensuring that the Hispanic |
| poor training, language barriers and a host of other | | | | workforce develops and maintains a safety conscious |
| communication related reasons. The issue of safety is | | | | workplace. |
| further complicated because Hispanics will not | | | | Your personal attempt to connect is what really |
| generally communicate potentially hazardous situations | | | | matters. Your sincere efforts to communicate will |
| to their supervisors or team leaders. They feel that it's | | | | create a lasting and positive impression with |
| not a "macho" thing to do and they also fear that they | | | | non-English speaking Hispanic employees. |
| might be viewed as whiners and complainers by their | | | | |