Working construction, you tend to pick up a lot of people who may not speak English as a first language, if they speak much English at all. Getting the proper safety procedures across in this sort of work environment can be a little tricky. It’s easy enough to ask a Spanish-speaking gofer to grab three 2×4’s by pointing at the 2×4’s and holding up three fingers. Teaching them your 911 procedure is a little trickier. Here are some tips to ensure that everyone on staff knows how to stay safe and knows how to handle an emergency.
Keep Some Bilingual People On Your Crew
Keeping at least one or two people on your crew who can speak multiple languages fluently is always a good idea, ensuring that you’ll never be at a loss when you need to get some information across to your people. Tell your translator what your people need to know, and have them pass it on.
Distribute Multi-language Safety Material
You might not be able to explain how to safely use the SAWZALL to a Spanish-speaking worker, but the instructions were probably printed in multiple languages. Any safety material that you have, from signs to manuals to the instructions on the first-aid kit, make sure that you have a copy printed for every language spoken on your work site.
Teach, And Learn, Some Basic Phrases
“Estar atento” or simply “atento” is a Spanish phrase that basically means “Watch out!” It comes in very handy when someone drops a bucket off of a scaffolding. Failing that, there’s always the universal “AAAAAHHH!” when something goes wrong. You don’t need to be able to read Don Quixote in the original Spanish, but learning a few basic phrases may be a tremendous help in safety situations. The good news is that this will tend to happen naturally. It’s not uncommon for a job site to develop its own unique vernacular based on the languages of everyone on staff so that a basic working language is in play.
When hiring a crew for any job, you’re looking for people who are dependable, professional, and experienced. Construction work offers a great opportunity for people who don’t speak English as a first language to make a decent living in an English-speaking country. But,communication is key no matter what line of work.
