Spanish-Speaking Construction Workers Discuss Their Safety Needs and Experiences: Residential Construction Training Program Evaluation Report

Details

• Personal Author:
  Lazo M ; Ruttenberg R ; Lazo M ; Ruttenberg R
• Description:
  Language is a substantial barrier to safety and health for Hispanic construction workers in the United States. In recognition of this, The Center to Protect Workers Rights (CPWR), in cooperation with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), sponsored the development and presentation of 10-hour safety and health training in Spanish for residential construction. Spanish-speaking trainers were available with class materials and handouts in Spanish (in addition to English materials), to reach out to some of the hundreds of thousands of construction workers in the United States who have trouble understanding, reading, and speaking English. This report summarizes in-depth interviews with 47 Spanish-speaking construction workers, who received the training from CPWR in 2001. Those interviewed were from a broad range of construction trades and with a wide range of experience. The research focused on five areas: effects of language barriers, construction experience from outside the United States, comparing union and non-union work experiences, outcomes of training, and ways to improve training. As a group, the workers found the Spanish-language brochures and overheads, and Spanish-speaking instructor helpful. Most said that, when they took other training in English, they did not understand a substantial amount of course content. They added that, even when they understood what was being said, they did not have the English language skills to ask questions or participate in discussions. Three outcomes of training are discussed: (1) examples of how training altered work practices and prevented injuries, (2) instances where training might have prevented injuries, and (3) near misses, where incidents were averted because of training. There is substantial testimony of changed behavior. The workers reported changes they had made in the use of fall protection and other personal protective equipment. More often now, they said, they practice lockout/tagout, check scaffold construction, and do not carry items when using ladders. Almost all of those interviewed (45 of 47) said they would like more safety and health training. They asked for the training to be longer and offered more often. Many asked for more Spanish-speaking trainers. Many asked for refresher training. Nearly all, 41 of 47, had already taken additional safety and health training since the 10-hour course. Six had taken the OSHA 500 course for trainers, suggesting that they would be teaching safety and health to other union workers. After the CPWR training, one individual was invited to join the board of his union local and was taking leadership in efforts to expand opportunities for members of his union. There was a clear appreciation among these Spanish-speaking construction workers of the training, but also for the respect and concern shown to them by their unions. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Construction Industry Occupational Health Safety Staff Development
• Keywords:
  Construction Industry Construction Workers Information Dissemination Injury Prevention Language Barrier Occupational Safety And Health Administration OSHA Training Work Experience
• Publisher:
  The Center to Protect Worker's Rights
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Report ; Report
• Place as Subject:
  Maryland ; OSHA Region 3
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) ; National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health ; Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America ; North America
• Pages in Document:
  1-23
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20058308
• Citation:
  Silver Spring, MD: The Center to Protect Worker's Rights, 2004 Feb; :1-23
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2004
• NORA Priority Area:
  Construction ; Construction
• Performing Organization:
  The Center to Protect Worker's Rights, Silver Spring, Maryland
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  19990930
• Source Full Name:
  Spanish-speaking construction workers discuss their safety needs and experiences: residential construction training program evaluation report
• End Date:
  20050630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:cc6a78152fcfc0de2bb4a202892393cd323e00025f089b6fca35a020217cb0cd2eebfc0c73d17e95023ec42f1fb2a211769feeee978a1788b199351482f6a704
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/221434/cdc_221434_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 193.47 KB ]