Project status: Active

Can an app improve the WHS outcomes of workers from diverse language backgrounds?

WHS Management Systems (WMS) are an essential part of ensuring workers are safe in their workplace, particularly in the construction sector. Organisations use different safety tools to establish WHS practices and standards and to complete safety audits.

Safety instructions and checklists sometimes get lost in translation for workers from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds. People with poor language or lower literacy levels have difficulty accessing readable formats of these important safety information. These audits can also be difficult to access when working in non-office based environments.

Exploring new ways to communicate WHS risks

Talk5 is an app designed to help CALD workers conduct critical safety checklists, regardless of their English literacy and numeracy levels.

The Centre has partnered with public company Talk 5 to identify opportunities to enhance the functionality and evidence base of their app in supporting CALD workers to navigate Australian WHS practices and standards. The project also aims to better support the needs and WHS obligations of managers overseeing CALD workers.

At this stage we are conducting a horizon scan and market research to better understand how the app can create better WHS outcomes for both workers and managers.

Watch this space for our findings once the project is completed.

Further Reading

• Preventing workplace harm through research, digital services media release

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