Most parts of the country have diverse populations with residents who speak a language other than English and have a cultural background that is different from the norm, and Florida is no exception. The United State Census reported in the 2020 census that over 30% of Florida households speak a language other than English, compared to the 22.5% average across the entire US. Tucker Paving serves all of Central Florida and additional areas in the Southeast, and we have a large number of crews working different jobs all over the Sunshine State. We have a diverse workforce that speaks a variety of languages and comes from a variety of backgrounds, and we know that the best way to ensure our entire workforce is on board with our company’s safety culture is to tailor our safety efforts to our workforce.

Tips for Safety Trainings With Multilingual and/or Multicultural Teams

  1. Offer trainings in your employee’s native language. Wherever possible, offer trainings to employees who have a first language other than English in their native languages. It can take quite some time for non-native speakers to become fluent—to have complete understanding—in English, and each person is going to achieve fluency at different rates. Offering safety information in their native languages insures you’re getting the message across.
  2. Have safety documents translated. Provide documents like posters, manuals, fliers, and other media translated into the other languages spoken by your employees.
  3. Utilize images to convey meaning in addition to words. Images are worth a thousand words—think of the images on a hand dryer in a public bathroom that shows you exactly how to use the dryer through only pictures; your safety signage should include pictures to ensure understanding.
  4. Speak clearly and slower, but not louder. Instructions and information should be given at a reasonable pace with clear pronunciation, but not in a louder voice.
  5. Avoid slang, idioms, metaphors and other figurative language. English is full of figurative language like “cut corners,” “bite the bullet,” and “break the ice” that native English speakers naturally understand the meaning of; non-native speakers, however, may miss some of your meaning if you use such figurative language. 
  6. Get feedback from employees on safety trainings. You should get feedback from all of your employees concerning safety trainings; make sure you solicit feedback from those employees who have a primary language other than English.
  7. Ensure a multilingual approach on the worksite, too. It’s great to have safety trainings in another language, but what happens when an employee who does not speak English fluently has a question or concern in the field? Ensure that there are avenues for questions and concerns to be answered and addressed at all times.

At Tucker Paving, we have nearly three decades in the asphalt and concrete paving industry. Contact us by calling (863) 299-2262, or use our contact form online, to inquire about your next paving project!