Cocerhan, I and Bradley, J (2019) Investigation into how technology can overcome language barriers experienced by construction workers from eastern Europe on sites in London. In: Gorse, C and Neilson, C J (eds.) Proceedings of 35th Annual ARCOM Conference, 2-4 September 2019, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds, UK.
Abstract
The Health and Safety Executive has shown that non-English speaking workers are more likely to suffer from workplace accidents, including fatalities, in their first day on-site, when compared to English speaking workers. Recently, the number of Romanian general operatives working on construction sites in London has increased. This, therefore, has a direct impact on effective communication, particularly on-site induction training.Therefore, the aim of this paper is to identify the impact of such language barriers and propose solutions, in the context of Romanian general operatives. A qualitative approach is adopted, using 20 number of participants, interviewed using a semi-structured approach, with the results, coded and themed. The findings indicate that the participants had difficulty in the comprehension of site induction training. The level of understanding at induction was low, leading the workers to perform at a sub-optimal level in terms of both their productivity and awareness of their own and other’s health and safety. On further probing, respondents note that they would not ask questions or make their concerns known, because of fear of losing their job, the embarrassment of not understanding, ignorance of the consequences, or a high level of dependency on the translator in the group.Recommendations include using smart phones to communicate through an application based on Google™ translate, to improve comprehension. This reduced Romanian workers' dependence on the group translator and facilitated more independent participation and awareness. Additionally, enhanced presentation structure and materials used in the induction training is encouraged, to facilitate the use of the translation technology and maximise the positive impact of the induction training.Where such recommendations are acknowledged and applied, it has the potential to reduce the increased risks associated, not just to Romanian workers, but all non-English speaking participants; thus, reducing the on-site risks associated with this cohort.
| Item Type: | Conference Paper (Paper) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | health and safety, wellbeing, training, communication |
| Index terms: | health and safety, Europe, qualitative approach, productivity, construction site, health and safety executive, well-being, London, investigation, construction worker, fatalities, operative |
| Subjects: | work location, mental health and wellbeing, data collection methods, practitioner, research methods, health risk and incident analysis, management, physical geography and landforms, health safety and environment, Geography |
| Topics: | Business Strategy, Health and Safety, Research Practice, Geographical Context, Roles and Professions, Site Management |
| Descriptive scope: | 3 PCA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here