As a worker, there are different ways you can participate in ensuring health and safety at your workplace. You can do this by:

• talking directly with your boss, supervisor and co-workers about any concerns you may have
• notifying the supervisor or  of any hazards or injuries, or potential hazards or injuries
• participating in training on any procedures with which you are unfamiliar
• asking questions about any matters you do not understand
• where required, requesting information and training be provided in an appropriate format to suit your needs, for example through the use of an interpreter or translator
• where there are health and safety representatives or a health and safety committee, raising issues with them.

WorkSafe is the government agency with powers to enforce workplace health and safety legislation and investigate concerns about unsafe workplaces.

If you have a concern or require information you can call our information centre at 1300 307 877. You can ask that your enquiry remains confidential and that your details are not given to anyone.

A culturally and linguistically diverse group, or CALD, is a community (or communities) with diverse ethnic backgrounds, language, traditions, religions, nationalities, and societal structures. CALD workers may need extra support in the workplace with communication, training, and supervision.

Western Australia has the highest proportion of the population born overseas at 35% (ABS, 2016). Therefore, it’s important for PCBUs to recognise the needs of CALD workers and implement suitable communication channels with workers to meet their WHS obligations.

Communicating WHS information in an easily accessible format is key to preventing and reducing workplace breaches, incidents, illnesses, and injuries. It is important that PCBUs identify all language or cultural barriers that may prevent a worker from carrying out their work safely and provide appropriate support and solutions to keep them healthy and safe.

Communication

PCBUs must tailor the way they communicate with CALD workers. As written information can often be complex, consider providing translated materials. Some different approaches that may be useful, noting that a combination of approaches is best:

• face-to-face communication can be a good way to check for understanding as it allows for immediate identification and correction of confusion. Remember to use language that is common, clear and to the point. Do not speak louder or use jargon and slang
• practical demonstrations show a worker how to do something. To check for understanding, you could ask the worker to demonstrate the task to make sure they have understood your instructions
• visual aids such as safety signs that use pictograms are a good way to connect across a language barrier. You can check for understanding by asking the worker questions, for example ‘where is the exit?’ or by asking them to explain a topic or task in their own words.

Free translating and interpreting services are available from TIS National. The service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with more than 100 languages available.

• for PCBUs - contact TIS National directly to organise an interpreter
• for non-English speaking workers - contact TIS National directly on 13 14 50.