Satisfying the Need for Diversity Training for Hispanic Construction Workers and Their Supervisors at US Construction Workplaces: A Case Study

Abstract

The representation of the Hispanic construction workforce has substantially increased over the last 15 years, and it continues to increase. Because of this, the Hispanic construction workforce represents a crucial segment of the US construction workforce. Unfortunately, the safety performance of Hispanic workers has been documented as an area requiring special attention due to the higher rates of fatalities and nonfatal injuries among Hispanic workers. Active cultural differences (ACDs) have been identified as one of the causes that negatively influence the performance of diverse construction crews. Therefore, the construction industry strives to adopt novel management techniques to better manage diverse crews. Accordingly, this study illustrates a training module that provides the knowledge to help construction firms overcome the undesirable influences of ACDs and strengthen their desirable effects. The findings strongly suggest that the proposed training is accepted by construction personnel. The proposed training would not only improve the overall safety performance of diverse construction crews but also positively influence other project success factors such as quality, productivity, and crew performance.