EHS on Tap E271: How Communication Barriers Impact Worker Safety
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Oct 28, 2025 Dr. Christine Robinson, a faculty member at Columbia Southern University and former industrial hygienist, discusses the critical impact of communication barriers on worker safety. She shares alarming U.S. statistics illustrating how language and cultural differences can lead to serious workplace incidents. Dr. Robinson emphasizes the need for effective strategies like tailored risk communications and manager training. Additionally, she explores the role of higher education in fostering better safety communication and highlights hopeful trends in generational adaptations to workplace training.
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Workforce Language Diversity Is Large
- The U.S. workforce is highly diverse with 68 million people speaking a language other than English at home.
- Nearly 30 million have limited English proficiency, creating pervasive communication gaps in safety.
Miscommunication Drives Most Accidents
- Miscommunication causes about 70% of workplace accidents and around 25% of those stem from language barriers.
- Language gaps disproportionately affect workers in higher-risk industries, raising illness and death rates.
Emergency Response Can Be Delayed By Language
- Dr. Robinson describes an office medical emergency where language barriers could delay 911 directions and response.
- She stresses that even 30 seconds' delay in emergency access can mean the difference between life and death.