College - Author 1
College of Architecture and Environmental Design
Department - Author 1
Construction Management Department
Degree Name - Author 1
BS in Construction Management
Date
6-2023
Primary Advisor/Subject Matter Expert (SME)
Phil Barlow, College of Architecture and Environmental Design, Construction Management Department
Abstract/Summary
Hispanics make up 30% of the construction workers, the highest percentage of any non-Hispanic minority group. Unfortunately, evidence also suggests Hispanic and Latino workers with limited to no English language skills are not receiving an adequate amount of safety training which is a growing concern. A lack of safety training and language barriers on the jobsite are seen as the cause for Hispanic workers having 41.6% higher injuries and non-fatal injuries in construction as compared to non-Hispanics in 2020. Three contractors were interviewed about their safety training programs for Spanish-only workers to find what strategies were found to be effective. Four main strategies said to have increased effectiveness: Having a company culture that revolved around safety, having videos to help Spanish-only workers visualize hazards on the jobsite, having Spanish-speaking instructors to conduct safety training for Spanish-only workers, and having a bilingual foreman or superintendent level employee to enforce safety protocol. Each interviewee also unanimously agreed that safety programs for Spanish-only workers would only become more important in the future. The strategies found in this paper may be used as be used as a reference to other MEP companies who seek to further refine their own safety programs.
URL: https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/cmsp/671
Poster Board