Effective Communications Impact on Workplace Safety

Dell Bull is the Executive Vice President of Business Development for CAVU International, an organization renowned for its superior leadership and team behavior training.

Effective Communications Impact on Workplace Safety

This week marks Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) Safe + Sound Week, an annual event that recognizes the successes of workplace health and safety programs, and offers leaders resources to improve SOPs that keep employees in the United States safe. The year’s theme focuses on job hazard analysis – a tool to evaluate workplace dangers and create proactive plans that prevent an incident from occurring. A theme that resonated with me in my role at CAVU International, a leader in corporate safety strategies, and the leadership training and effectiveness coaching we provide our clients.

Why? This staggering number: a recent OSHA survey found that language barriers are a factor in 25 percent of on-the-job accidents, especially in industries with heavy machinery and high risk.

We guide our clients, and our workforce, to be inclusive and ensure all employees feel physical and psychological safety in the production facilities, oil platforms, manufacturing plants… the list goes on… yet we rarely pause to think about how we are communicating, often prioritizing what we are communicating. This is where we find a gap, and one that should be filled as a basic requirement, not as innovation.

Workplace accidents not only physically and psychologically harm workers, it erodes the trust between leadership and employees and damages reputations. I urge leaders to review their current safety programs through a communication lens and challenge you to identify opportunities for improvement through these tactics.

Invest in Language Tools & Trainings

Translation devices improve communication across language barriers, which is crucial in diverse work environments such as oil rigs and construction sites. Instant translation reduces the risk of misinterpretation, which can lead to accidents, and ensures language barriers do not hinder the clear exchange of important safety information during pre-task briefing, execution and de-briefing.

Incorporating reliable language translation technology to facilitate real-time communication makes workers feel more confident and less anxious because they can understand and be understood. This reduces misunderstandings and leads to a more focused and safe work environment.

Engage with Employees at All Levels

Involve employees at all levels in safety planning and decision-making to ensure buy-in and practical insights. It is important to equip leaders with training and the skills to foster a safety-first culture, but to effectively manage safety initiatives, employees need to be on board and believe in the process. Establishing a standardized planning method, including briefing and debriefing, is critical to the success of all operations and requires collaboration from employees at every level.

Promote a Culture of Inclusivity

A safe environment is more than physical: it is also physiological. Creating an environment where employees feel safe to speak up about safety concerns without fear of retribution is vital. Creating an inclusive culture starts with promoting transparency and developing multilingual resources. This includes developing open communication channels where employees feel comfortable reporting unsafe practices and hazards and ensuring safety manuals, signs, and training materials are all available in multiple languages.

Continually Evaluate Communication Effectiveness

A safety strategy is only as effective as its evaluation and improvements. Companies must continuously evaluate and improve communication strategies to ensure they meet the needs of all employees. Regular reviews help identify new hazards and implement measures to mitigate them. Proactive safety practices reduce the likelihood of accidents, thereby protecting crews and reducing liability. Don’t ever pass up the opportunity to ask your team to demonstrate understanding of your direction through translation. Don’t assume that a “head nod” is the response to complete understanding. Confirming accurate translation is work, but it’s work that the best and most successful teams take on.

As more companies become multinational and expand workforces around the globe, the need for translation and inclusive communication will continue to grow. Leaders have more access than ever to tools, resources, and training to ensure their employee safety and inclusion in the workplace. Let’s all continue to build on our protocols this Safe + Sound week – and every week.

For more information about CAVU International, visit www.cavu-intl.com/oil-and-gas.