Construction workers and their families enjoyed performances of "Corazones de Oro" ("Hearts of Gold"), a comedy in Spanish that teaches OSHA jobsite safety principles.

The Home Builders Institute (HBI), the workforce development arm of NAHB, is looking for national sponsors to help roll out its Adult ESL (English as a Second Language) and Safety Campaign for Hispanic Workers .

HBI just completed the campaign’s successful inaugural launch at the first Louisiana Hispanic Workers Construction Workforce Summit on Dec. 3-5 in New Orleans.

The language barrier and construction safety issue came to the forefront in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, when many Hispanic construction workers flocked to the city to support its reconstruction.

Spanish-speaking workers usually have a crew leader that is bilingual, but he often must leave the site to fulfill other duties, making it difficult for English-speaking home builders to communicate with the crews, explained Home Builders Institute trustee Randy Noel, president of Reve Inc. and NAHB Area 8 national area chairman.

“The guys left on the job usually don’t speak English,” said Noel. “If you need to advise them about how to do their jobs correctly or more safely, you have a difficult time. You almost have to play charades to try to make them understand what’s going on.”

“Helping Hispanic construction workers learn English here in New Orleans and helping them get involved in our community more by knowing the English language is part of what we are trying to do at the Home Builders Institute,” he said.

Through the Adult ESL and Safety Campaign for Hispanic Workers, HBI is seeking to help Hispanic workers across the U.S. overcome the language barrier they often face on construction job sites.

The ESL training program features the industry’s Sed de Saber—Construction Edition learning system and incorporates vocabulary and scenarios relevant to the construction industry, with particular emphasis on safe work practices on the jobsite.

The summit brought together 200 workers, builders, community leaders, elected officials and media to discuss cultural and safety concerns in assimilating the Hispanic community into the workforce.

HBI co-hosted the event with the Home Builders Association of Greater New Orleans, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Louisiana, National Hispanic Construction Association, Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans Hispanic Apostolate Community Services and Puentes New Orleans.

“Hispanics comprise a large and growing portion of the construction workforce in New Orleans,” said Sergio Salmeron, director of Hispanic affairs for HBI.

“We believe this first summit has initiated a meaningful dialogue in the construction community about the safety concerns for the Hispanic population and how these concerns can be addressed by better language access for workers,” he said.

The Louisiana Home Builders Association Self Insurers Fund, Stanley Black and Decker and Novamex sponsored the New Orleans summit, which HBI hopes to replicate in other major cities with significant Hispanic communities.

Companies and organizations that sponsor future summits can expect high visibility, including coverage by local media and networking opportunities with local builders, suppliers and workers, Salmeron said.

The New Orleans summit included a panel discussion on “Hispanic Trends, Cultural Issues and Policy Considerations” with panelists from Tulane University, New Orleans Remodeling Council, the U.S. Department of Labor, Make It Right Foundation and the Louisiana Chamber of Commerce.

New Orleans City Council President Arnie Fielkow, a long-time champion of efforts to deal with wage theft and Hispanic workers, made opening remarks. The three-day event continued with four performances for Hispanic construction workers and their families of “Corazones de Oro” (“Hearts of Gold”), a theatrical comedy in Spanish that teaches Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) jobsite safety principles as it tells the story of a group of spirited Hispanic workers chasing the American dream.

HBI encourages employers to enroll their Hispanic workers in the spring and fall 2011 semesters of the ESL training program. The monthly cost is $25 per employee for HBA members and $30 for non-HBA members. Workers can complete the interactive distance learning curricula outside of regular working hours within six months using the Sed de Saber — Construction Edition and participating in weekly coaching sessions and monthly labs based on OSHA safety standards.

For more information about future sponsorship opportunities or enrolling workers in the ESL program featuring the Sed de Saber — Construction Edition learning system, e-mail Sergio Salmeron at HBI, or call him at 800-795-7955 x8912.