Sacramento, CA — A new interpretation app that can instantly translate more than 200 languages and dialects can be used by employers and workers in California to communicate more easily.
The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health recently deployed the app as part of a pilot program. The tool was adapted by creator TranslateLive to meet the specific needs of Cal/OSHA.
Users of the app can speak into a smartphone, tablet or computer, and the technology instantly translates the words into the selected language. Cal/OSHA’s Enforcement Division is using the app to communicate with workers across the state, with a focus on industries in which communication barriers are common, including agriculture.
Cal/OSHA says it will monitor the pilot program to determine the technology’s effectiveness and potential broader use within the agency.
“California is home to one of the world’s most diverse workforces, which drives the world’s fifth-largest economy,” Cal/OSHA Chief Debra Lee said in a press release. “By embracing this technology, we are committed to breaking down barriers and upholding the safety and rights of every employee, regardless of language or background.”
