Face toFacecontinuedfrom page 47Ineffective communication <strong>of</strong> key objectivesresults in confusion, lack <strong>of</strong> teamworkand low morale. This leads tonegative impact on the overall objectives<strong>of</strong> the organization if the communicationissues are not handled properly.Kelly Bernish (KB): Effective communicationis one <strong>of</strong> the biggest challengeswe all face. Diversity, or theexperiences, characteristics, beliefs andcultural differences that we all bring tothe table, adds to that challenge. The tendencyfor people to project their beliefsonto or to stereotype people who are outwardlydiverse or different from themmay affect the way communication happens—ordoesn’t happen.The same can be said for the personreceiving the message and the filters theymay apply to the message. Additionally,hand gestures, body language and slanglanguage styles may have a completelyMeet the Panel48 PROFESSIONAL SAFETY AUGUST <strong>2008</strong> www.asse.orgdifferent meaning in diverse populations.For example, in our parks we have guestsfrom all over the world each day. To me,thumbs up means everything is okay, butto someone else it may mean the numberone. It can be as simple as that.Dale Brito (DB): There are manydifferent ways to say the same thing, justas there are many different ways to interpretwhat is said. Each <strong>of</strong> us hears thingsdifferently, based on our beliefs, culturalbackground, etc. Effective communicationhinges on knowing our audience andbeing able to make adjustments to suitthem. People will translate what theyhear into ideas based on their own beliefsand cultural background. Diversity introducesa variety <strong>of</strong> views, ideas andthoughts into a conversation, expandinga single idea in many directions.Nonverbal communication is anotheraspect that must be considered. It, too, isaffected by beliefs, cultural background,etc., and can be easily misinterpreted.Everyone uses mannerisms and bodylanguage when speaking. Because <strong>of</strong> this,although an individual may intend tosay one thing, the spoken message maybe interpreted as something totally differentbecause <strong>of</strong> the nonverbal message.Jamal AbuSneineh is a risk specialist, loss prevention consultant with the City <strong>of</strong> Portland.He was born and raised in Jerusalem, Palestine. AbuSneineh holds a B.A. from BethlehemUniversity and an M.S.T. from Portland State University. He is the immediate past president<strong>of</strong> <strong>ASSE</strong>’s Columbia-Willamette Chapter.Kelly Bernish is a graduate <strong>of</strong> Kent State University and has spent her SH&E career withSeaWorld/Anheuser-Busch in three different locations in the U.S. Currently, she is director <strong>of</strong>environmental, health and safety for SeaWorld <strong>of</strong> Florida Inc. Bernish has been a member <strong>of</strong><strong>ASSE</strong> since 1997 and is currently Chair <strong>of</strong> Women in <strong>Safety</strong> Engineering, one <strong>of</strong> <strong>ASSE</strong>’s commoninterest groups. She is also a past president <strong>of</strong> <strong>ASSE</strong>’s Central Florida Chapter.Dale Holly Kahaukapu Brito is a risk control consultant for First Insurance Co. <strong>of</strong> HawaiiLtd. Born and raised in Honolulu, she currently lives in Kailua on the island <strong>of</strong> Oahu. Herdiverse heritage includes ancestors <strong>of</strong> Hawaiian, English, Irish and Spanish descent. An <strong>ASSE</strong>member since 1993, Brito has held several <strong>of</strong>ficer positions in <strong>ASSE</strong>’s Hawaii Chapter.Rixio Medina, CSP, is vice president <strong>of</strong> health, safety, security, environmental protectionand shared services for CITGO Petroleum Corp. in Houston, TX. He served as a presidentialappointee on the Chemical <strong>Safety</strong> and Hazard Investigation Board and served two terms assafety representative on the National Advisory Committee on Occupational <strong>Safety</strong> andHealth. For 2 years, Medina chaired the Civil Service Commission and was vice-chair <strong>of</strong> theCivil Service Board for the City <strong>of</strong> Corpus Christi, TX. Medina is the recipient <strong>of</strong> an <strong>ASSE</strong>President’s Award for his work as an international emissary.Terrie Norris, CSP, ARM, is risk control manager with Bickmore Risk Services, working inthe firm’s Southern California <strong>of</strong>fice. During her formative years, Norris lived as an Air Forcedependent in New York, the Philippine Islands, Hawaii, Ohio, England and Michigan. An<strong>ASSE</strong> member since 1987, she has served as an <strong>of</strong>ficer in the West Michigan and OrangeCounty chapters. Norris is <strong>ASSE</strong>’s Region I Vice President and she recently completed herterm as chair <strong>of</strong> the Diversity Committee. She is a recipient <strong>of</strong> <strong>ASSE</strong>’s Charles V. CulbertsonOutstanding Volunteer Service Award for her work on the Diversity Committee.Linda Rhodes, CSP, is general manager <strong>of</strong> system safety for the Chicago Transit Authority.Rhodes holds an undergraduate degree in industrial and systems engineering from OhioUniversity. Her participation in athletics and various volunteer organizations over the yearshas exposed her to diverse cultures, as has her employment in industries such as manufacturing,food, not-for-pr<strong>of</strong>it and transportation. Rhodes is currently Chair <strong>of</strong> the DiversityCommittee.Ashok Garlapati, CSP, QEP, G-IOSH, was born in the State <strong>of</strong> Andhra Pradesh, India. Hisstudies and work in India exposed him to many languages and cultures. He moved toKuwait in 2000 to work with the Kuwait Oil Co., where he interacts with a workforce <strong>of</strong>more than 50 nationalities. Garlapati, the immediate past president <strong>of</strong> <strong>ASSE</strong>’s KuwaitChapter, was a guest panelist during the Diversity Committee’s <strong>Safety</strong> <strong>2008</strong> presentation.RM: A diverse group will face communicationchallenges. One challenge Ihave experienced is the problem-solvingapproach common in <strong>American</strong> society.We talk over an issue and usually want toquickly define the problem and find asolution for it—the quicker the better.<strong>Safety</strong> pr<strong>of</strong>essionals are trained to recognizehazards, evaluate them and compareoptions, and take immediate correctiveactions when needed. Other cultures andpr<strong>of</strong>essionals may see and understandthe same problem, but generally want toevaluate the issue in more detail beforeattempting to fix it. They are not slowerthinkers, they simply want to understandmore details before acting.Our typical communication style is toget to the point and to move directly frompoint A to point B, in a logical mannerwithout digression. Other cultures’ communicationpatterns are not driven onlyby efficiency; they might also want toexplore the context, taking time to explorerelated matters. I must discipline myselfnot to let this learned skill affect my communicationefforts with individuals whodon’t have the same sense <strong>of</strong> urgency Iusually have. We need to recognize thatother people may be different from usand may not respond to a given situationthe same way we do. Understanding andkeeping in mind those individual differenceswill help us be more effective wheninteracting with a diverse group.TN: In today’s mobile world, most <strong>of</strong>us have experienced language barriers. Ifwe do not speak the same language itinterferes with sharing our experiencesand knowledge. It creates hazards withinthe workplace when we cannot communicateexpected behaviors or warning signscannot be read. However, diversity’seffect on communication is much moresubtle than mere language differences.Take the U.S. for example; the differencesin regional accents and speed atwhich English is spoken in those regionscan make it difficult for someone in thenortheast region <strong>of</strong> the country to communicatewith someone from the southeast.I learned Arabic for a trip to theMiddle East, but found that while theaccent I acquired from my language tapewas perfect in Egypt, it was slightly <strong>of</strong>f inJordan. I had the opportunity to live inEngland as a child, and the language wasthe same and the accent not too difficult,but the words did not always have thesame meaning. For example, when Iasked for chips, meaning potato chips, Iwas served French fries; when I wanteda cookie, I needed to ask for a biscuit.The diversity in nonverbal communicationadds another nuance. In manycultures, the comfort zone for communicationis at a distance, bows are exchangedrather than handshakes, anddirect eye contact is not accepted in one
culture while it is expected in another.These differences increase the need forcommunication training and increasedself-awareness. Successful leaders willdevelop an understanding <strong>of</strong> the language,the meaning <strong>of</strong> commonly usedphrases, and the acceptable nonverbalcommunication characteristics <strong>of</strong> theworkforce and business place in whichthey work and live.PS: How do you encourage diversitywithin <strong>ASSE</strong>?AG: <strong>ASSE</strong>’s Kuwait Chapter membershipconsists <strong>of</strong> people from more than15 countries and their experience levelranges from 1 to 25 years’ in differentindustrial sectors such as construction,mechanical, petrochemicals, andupstream and downstream oil industries.Therefore, membership needs are completelydifferent and diverse in nature.An organization’s success and competitivenessdepends on its ability toembrace diversity and realize its benefits.We have used their expertise levelsto our benefit in the following ways:•Encourage experienced members toshare their experience with junior membersby conducting technical meetings,seminars and training programs.•Encourage junior members to takepart in leadership roles through participationas committee members, volunteersfor pr<strong>of</strong>essional development conferencesand outreach activities.•Publish technical articles and bulletinsin several languages to reach ourdiverse membership.•Provide membership renewal forvolunteering activities, subsidize trainingprograms, host recognition programsto increase the involvement <strong>of</strong> membersin <strong>Society</strong> activities.KB: My passion is WISE, the Womenin <strong>Safety</strong> Engineering group. I have beenblessed with the opportunity to chair anincredible organization <strong>of</strong> women—alldiverse in their own right—working inthe SH&E field. So, I get to influence thateach day. Through this group, we havethe opportunity to influence recruitmentand networking within our field andprovide a platform for everyone to beexposed to incredible diversity. I alsowork with someone through the WISEmentoring program, and it is valuableand educational for both <strong>of</strong> us.And, there is my involvement with<strong>ASSE</strong>’s Diversity Committee. It has beennothing short <strong>of</strong> an amazing and fulfillingopportunity to meet and interactwith people from all over the world.Finally, there is my ongoing effort tosupport endowments and scholarshipsfor people <strong>of</strong> diverse backgrounds.RM: I have had the opportunity tohelp <strong>ASSE</strong> and the pr<strong>of</strong>ession in theirefforts to be more diverse and inclusive.When recommending the appointment <strong>of</strong>members to committees, I have identifiedindividuals from different backgroundsand I have encouraged several Hispanicsafety pr<strong>of</strong>essionals from overseas to join<strong>ASSE</strong> and have mentored them in pursuingpr<strong>of</strong>essional certification.The <strong>ASSE</strong> Foundation has also allowedme to join others in providing scholarshipsand pr<strong>of</strong>essional developmentgrants. I am thrilled to support theHispanics in <strong>Safety</strong> and the DiversityCommittee scholarships.<strong>ASSE</strong> has also given me the opportunityto be the face and the Spanish voice <strong>of</strong>the <strong>Society</strong> at several pr<strong>of</strong>essional conferencesin Mexico and in presentations tothe secretaries <strong>of</strong> labor, union leaders andbusinessmen <strong>of</strong> five countries in a tourthrough Central America with representatives<strong>of</strong> the U.S. Department <strong>of</strong> Labor.Finally, through the Diversity Committee,I have been able to work with volunteersand staff members to developstrategies and implement actions to help<strong>ASSE</strong> improve its diversity standing.TN: As chair <strong>of</strong> the Diversity Committee,I was faced with the challenge <strong>of</strong> findingnew volunteers for the committee. IFace to Face continued on page 50Request 14 at www.psads.info or http://prosafety.hotims.com/19750-14www.asse.org AUGUST <strong>2008</strong> PROFESSIONAL SAFETY 49
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