The hazard
A lot of the safety on a job depends on messages getting through: the morning plan, a shouted warning, a hand signal to an operator, a tag on a switch, a label on a drum. On a crew that speaks more than one language, any of those messages can get lost without anyone noticing. A nod does not always mean someone understood. Clear communication is a safety control, just like a guard or a harness.
The action
Chemical labels in the workplace must be legible, in English, and prominently displayed on the container or readily available in the work area. Employers with employees who speak other languages may add the information in their language, as long as it is also presented in English. If you cannot read a label or a safety data sheet, ask before you use the product, not after. (29 CFR 1910.1200(f)(10))
ASK THE CREW
Which labels, signs or tags on this job are hard for some of us to read?
From the talk: Safety communication on mixed-language crews. Read it in full, free, with the questions and the sign-in sheet.