Inductions and training for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse workers

During farm visits, Workplace Health and Safety Queensland’s agriculture inspectors often discuss considerations in effectively training workers who are Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD).

Under Section 19 of the Work Health and Safety Act, employers have a duty to provide workers with the information, training, instruction, and supervision needed to work safely.

Many farmers have successfully used bilingual workers to help communicate safety information and reinforce key messages within their teams.

Training materials can also be made more effective by using photographs, diagrams, and simple visual cues, such as green ticks and red crosses, to demonstrate safe and unsafe practices.

Using technology can also assist with translation tools available in programs such as Microsoft Word, along with AI-powered translation and communication tools, making safety information more accessible to workers from diverse language backgrounds.

To meet safety obligations, employers should be able to demonstrate that they have taken reasonable steps to ensure workers understand workplace hazards, procedures, and their responsibilities.

In some cases, this may mean providing procedures, signage, labels or safety instructions in workers' primary language or using dual-language materials.

Clear communication is essential to a safe workplace. When workers understand the risks and the controls in place, they are better equipped to work safely and prevent injuries.