Communicating with crews whose first language is not yours
The crew lead nods when you describe the wall detail. When you walk past later, two workers are preparing a different junction. The lead understood the instruction, but the words used to pass it on did not identify the same location or finished condition.
Make an instruction understandable by using familiar words, showing the exact location and asking workers to explain or demonstrate what they will do. A nod only tells you that the message was heard. The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety recommends plain language, the main message first and testing whether unfamiliar readers can understand and act on it. On site, pair that approach with the actual drawing and task rather than speaking louder or longer.
Check the instruction at the work face
- Find out how the crew communicates. Ask the foreman which language and format workers understand best. Arrange appropriate translation or interpretation through the employer when the message needs it.
- Point to one task and one place. Mark the room, gridline or detail on the current drawing. Show the starting condition and the result the crew is being asked to achieve.
- Use short, concrete instructions. Explain unfamiliar site abbreviations and avoid jokes or phrases that depend on local slang. Keep a design requirement separate from a personal preference about sequence.
- Show the action where suitable. Use an approved sample or demonstration by a competent person. A sketch can support the instruction, but it cannot substitute for an approved detail or required training.
- Ask for a check-back. Invite a worker to point to the location and describe the next action in their own words. Ask where they would stop and get help if the condition differs.
- Leave an accessible reference. Give the foreman the marked drawing or approved task reference and confirm that other workers can use it. Recheck understanding when the task or crew changes.
Common mistakes
- Treating the bilingual foreman’s understanding as proof that every worker understood.
- Using a translation app as the only check for a complex or safety-critical instruction.
- Embarrassing someone for asking to hear the instruction again.
Checklist
An instruction the crew can use
- Current location and drawing identified.
- Main action stated in familiar words.
- Necessary translation or interpretation arranged.
- Approved demonstration or sample available.
- Workers can explain the action and stopping point.
- Reference remains accessible after the conversation.
Check your understanding
Everyone nods, but no worker can point to the place where the task starts. What does that tell you?
