Bilingual Signs Can Help Save Lives

Work-related deaths in the United States are decreasing!  The Bureau of Labor Statistics presented a very promising trend in their Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) Summary for 2009. 

Total work-related deaths in 2009 decreased significantly from 5,214 the previous year to 4,340, which represents the smallest annual preliminary total since CFOI program was first conducted in 1992.

What these positive headlines fail to mention is an increase in workplace deaths for one of the largest segments of the workforce in the United States.  

Workplace accidents killed 668 Latino and Hispanic workers in 2009, accounting for 15 percent of all job-related fatalities.  That translates to a total fatality rate of 3.7 per 100,000, which is the highest percentage of any ethnic group. 

In certain states, that number climbs even higher.  California also showed a tremendous increase in Latino and Hispanic worker deaths in 2009.  Of the 301 preliminary work-related deaths in the state in 2009, 42 percent were Latino and Hispanic.  This is the highest percentage of on-the-job Latino and Hispanic deaths in the state’s history.
  

Several different factors might help explain this troubling trend:

• Increased workforce representation: Over the last decade, there has been a substantial increase in the number of Latino and Hispanics workers in the overall workforce.  This type of increase directly affects the statistical increase in work-related deaths.
   
• Undocumented status: Workers who came from Central or South American countries such as Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, or Honduras that might not have legal work permits are less likely to report safety violations.
   
• Communication barriers: Spanish-speaking workers may not understand warnings or instructions posted and written in English.  Even if a company has a supervisor that speaks both languages, posted safety signs offer important information and explain hazards that are present at all times.

Under the provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSH Act), the employer and the employees have certain responsibilities to ensure that a everyone is protected against recognized workplace hazards, regardless of what language they speak. 

What Are the Responsibilities of an Employer Under the OSH Act?

• Provide a workplace free from recognized hazards.
• Keep workers informed about relevant OSHA and safety and health matters.
• Comply with OSHA rules.
• Provide training required by OSHA rules.
• Cooperate with OSHA compliance officers.

What Are the Responsibilities of an Employee Under the OSH Act?

• Comply with applicable OSHA standards.
• Follow all safety and health rules established by your employer.
• Use prescribed protective equipment.
• Report hazardous conditions to your supervisor.
• Contact OSHA if your employer does not correct hazardous conditions.

Ensure all your employees are protected and aware of hazards throughout your facility.  Stonehouse Signs offers standard safety and facility signs and accident prevention tags in Spanish or any language.  Offer your specific safety messages for your diverse workforce in English and Spanish with Stonehouse bilingual safety signs and bilingual accident prevention tags. 

Do you need a bilingual version of any of our standard safety signs or safety tags?  No problem! Contact one of our sign experts today and mention you want to Change It Up to get what you want.

Sources:

The Bureau of Labor Statistics

The National Safety Council

OSHA