Toolkit and funny videos highlight importance of clear communication
The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) has launched Spell It Out, a new toolkit designed to promote workplace safety through plain language. By eliminating jargon, acronyms, and complex wording, the initiative aims to make health and safety information more accessible to all workers, including newcomers and those with different first languages.
“Clear communication is the foundation of a safe workplace,” says Anne Tennier, president and CEO of CCOHS. “We hope to inspire others in health and safety to use plain language and affect positive change across Canadian workplaces.”
To emphasize the point, CCOHS created some amusing videos.
The toolkit provides practical recommendations for improving clarity in workplace communication. Key principles include avoiding unnecessary technical language, using active voice, and organizing information logically. It also emphasizes the importance of fostering an inclusive workplace culture by recognizing that complex language can make some employees feel excluded.
“There’s no room for confusion or misunderstanding in health and safety,” Tennier adds. “With clear safety messages and guidance that are easy for everyone to understand, we can make our workplaces safer and more inclusive.”
The Spell It Out resources, available for free on the CCOHS website, include animated videos, posters, infographics, and social media materials. The videos use animal workers—communicating through vibrations, clicks, and whistles—to illustrate how complex language can be a barrier. While the animations take a lighthearted approach, the message remains serious: every worker benefits from clear and simple safety communication.
