Employers’ experiences with safe work integration of recent immigrants and refugees

•Employers identified challenges related to limited OHS knowledge and awareness of newcomer workers, language barriers, perceived cultural differences, and resource needs related to safety.•The findings identified gaps in employer safety practices and safety communication in integrating recent immigrants and refugees safely into work.•Providing resources to employers on different approaches to train newcomer workers with language challenges and positive ways to work with cultural diversity may create safer workplaces.