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Languages in Construction
This London pilot project was instigated by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) and the Construction Confederation following dialogue with CILT, the National Centre for Languages. It was sponsored by the Sector Skills Development Agency (SSDA), CITB, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and London Central Learning and Skills Council (LSC) with support from the Health and Safety Executive and the Unions (TUC, TGWU, Amicus and UCATT).
The report, published in March 2004, provides a snapshot of how native English speakers and second language speakers communicate in the workplace, identifies good practice and suggests how the construction industry might continue to promote effective operational communications in the context of health and safety.
A meeting with a number of government departments took place at the beginning of 2004 to discuss how the report's recommendations could be integrated into the government's work with the construction industry. The report was received favourably and further meetings are being set up to discuss work going forward.
Stephen Wright, HSE Construction Policy said: 'The construction industry increasingly includes workers who speak a variety of languages, but it is vital that everyone involved in a project can communicate. Workers are at risk if they cannot understand health and safety information, method statements or warning signs because of differing languages. This report helps inform stakeholders how best to explain the health and safety requirements of construction to those whose who do not speak English as their first language and what improvements the industry needs to address.'
Download the report (pdf format) 
Download the guidelines for simple communication on construction sites (pdf format)
For further information on this project please e-mail Cherry Sewell at cherry.sewell@cilt.org.uk.
