State: |
New
York |
| |
|
| Company: |
Wenner
Bread Products, |
| |
Bayport, New York
(A VPP Star Employer) |
| |
|
| Industry: |
Bakery
Products (SIC Code 2051/NAICS Code 311812) |
| |
|
| Employees: |
500
Employees |
| |
|
Success
Brief:
|
Wenner Bread Products implemented a Safety
Management System that addressed language and
cultural barriers in its workplace.
|
 |
| Wenner Bread
employees on the job |
The Problem:
Language and cultural barriers involving the company’s largely Spanish-speaking
workforce contributed to on-the-job accidents and injuries. One of the Companies
greatest difficulties, before applying for a VPP evaluation, was that all
training and information was shared solely through Verbal translation.
The Solution:
Upon applying to OSHA for a Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) evaluation, the
company’s management and safety team worked together to introduce employees to a
newly created Safety Management System and the principles of VPP. The company
first evaluated its employees’ educational levels, job duties, and common
injuries, as well as culture and background, and then revised its safety
programs and communications materials accordingly.
To better communicate with its numerous Spanish-speaking applicants and
employees, the company now conducts separate Spanish-language job interviews and
safety orientations for those applicants and new hires with little or no English
skills, and makes all educational, operational and regulatory information
available in both Spanish and English. The company has also made its written
materials simpler to understand in order to accommodate the different
educational levels, and it makes sure that Spanish materials are in the
appropriate dialects. The company’s daily safety briefings, weekly safety
meetings, and weekly safety tips are conducted in both Spanish and English, and
medical insurance information booklets are also available in Spanish.
Interpreters are provided as needed for employees who require medical
appointments to treat work-related injuries.
The company has reduced the cost of this program by utilizing bilingual
employees both to translate handouts and manuals, and to serve as interpreters
for medical appointments and at workplace presentations, including weekly and
monthly safety meetings. These employees are then rewarded with points that lead
to prizes. Also, in some cases, employees’ bilingual skills and services have
significantly contributed to their achieving promotions within the company.
The Impact:
Since proactively addressing language and cultural barriers in its workplace,
the company has experienced a substantial decrease in injuries and illnesses. As
a result, in 2003, the company’s overall injury and illness incident rate was
6.6 (compared to 12.7 in General industry), and its Days Away Restricted or
Transferred (DART) rate was 5.5 (compared to 8.5 in General Industry). The
company has also experienced improved employee relations with its
Spanish-speaking employees since the changes were implemented, as well as a
significant increase in productivity and product quality.
Source:
Ms. Elisonia Valle (January 2004).
|
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