Developing an Effective Construction Training Program for American Supervisors with Hispanic Craft Workers: Spanish as a Second Language Survival Course and Concrete Basics Course

In the construction industry, Hispanics have the highest rate of fatal work injuries among the racial/ethnic groups, and productivity in the field is limited by the language barrier between Hispanic workers and their supervisors and the level of education of many Hispanic craft workers. This research developed a training program designed to facilitate the integration process between American supervisors and Hispanic craft workers in a practical and cost-effective way, thus improving productivity and lowering fatality rates. The two training courses developed are designed to expand the Spanish communication skills of American supervisors. The research team modified the English-as-a-second-language course developed in Phase I into Spanish as a Second Language (SSL) Survival Course. A series of technical training courses were also developed, titled Concrete Pavement Construction Basics (CPCB), that cover general practices in concrete pavement construction. They are much shorter and more specialized than the SSL course. The CPCB courses provide American supervisors simple and practical communication tools on a variety of topics to choose from according to their specific needs.

• Corporate Authors:

  Iowa State University, Ames

  Center for Transportation Research and Education, 2711 South Loop Drive
  Ames, IA  United States  50011-8664

  Iowa Department of Transportation

  800 Lincoln Way
  Ames, IA  United States  50010
• Authors:
  • Vazquez, Edna Vanessa
• Publication Date: 2005-6

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Edition: Final Report
• Features: Illustrations; Photos;
• Pagination: 324p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Communication; Concrete; Construction and maintenance personnel; Fatalities; Hispanics; Labor force; Language; Paving; Productivity; Safety; Supervisors; Training; Training programs
• Identifier Terms: Spanish language
• Uncontrolled Terms: Language barriers
• Subject Areas: Construction; Education and Training; Highways; Safety and Human Factors; I50: Construction and Supervision of Construction;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01004483
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: CTRE Project 04-132
• Files: TRIS, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Sep 21 2005 4:38PM