How to Support Spanish-Speaking Construction Crews (and how we’re doing it at AlignOps)

The year? 2025. The challenge? Bridging the language gap in construction operations with AlignOps. 

Like many in the construction tech world, we recognize that strong operations run on good communication. But here is the reality: nearly one third of the construction workforce natively speaks Spanish. And Spanish is the most commonly spoken non-English language on the jobsite. Yet a majority of the tools, training, and resources crews are provided aren’t often built with that in mind. 

At AlignOps, we want to make construction operations easier for crews. So, over the past few years, we’ve intentionally focused on updating our products to support Spanish-speaking crews in the field, warehouse, and back office. We want to share what we’ve accomplished so far. And uncover the answer to your million-dollar question: how can you better support your multilingual crew?

The risk of ignoring the language gaps in construction

Every contractor knows that communication breakdowns cost time and money. But most underestimate the severity of how it can impact everyday performance and safety. On paper, everything might look normal. But behind the scenes, language gaps can quietly stall progress in different ways: A safety training delivered in English but only partially understood.  A report filled out with fewer details. A crew member nods in understanding, but later asks a friend what needs to be done.

The language gap can show up in various ways. And here are the facts.

• OSHA estimates that language barriers contribute to up to 25% of workplace accidents.
• Hispanic and Latino workers have the highest fatality rate of any demographic in construction, at 4.6 deaths per 100,000 full-time workers.
• When language becomes a barrier to asking questions or flagging hazards, jobsite incidents become more likely.

Beyond safety, productivity also takes a hit. Studies show that miscommunication in the field leads to rework, schedule delays, and increased costs. And when workers feel unsupported or misunderstood, morale drops, and turnover rises. Bridging the language gap isn’t just about doing what’s right for people. It’s about doing what’s smart for your projects. So let’s break down what you can do to start bridging the gap.

Identify where your language gaps exist

Language barriers don’t look the same on every job site. In some regions, such as  Texas, California, and New Mexico, more than half of the construction workforce identifies as Hispanic. In others, it’s closer to a third. Either way, the question remains the same: Are you creating an environment where every worker is supported and can contribute at their highest level?

At AlignOps, we’ve learned that the most effective way to start is by listening. Talk to your teams. Ask the foremen where they’re seeing confusion. Ask the crews what would help them do their jobs better. Ask your safety leads where communication breaks down. You won’t need to dig deep — the answers are already on the surface. You just need to be paying attention. When you start from a place of curiosity, not compliance, you begin to see where small changes can unlock outsized gains.

Bridge the gap with technology that works in Spanish and English

One of the reasons language gaps persist is that most construction technology has been built on the assumption that every user is fluent in English. The interface, the training modules, the documentation — it’s all designed around one type of user. But the population is a mix of various cultures and languages, and so are our crews.

That’s why AlignOps has included Spanish-language support in our product evolution. Here are a few of the major steps we’ve taken so far in our BusyBusy field management platform and SafetyReports risk management platform:

1. Spanish Safety Training Library 
   Our Spanish Safety Training Library, available in both BusyBusy and SafetyReports, is already one of the most-used features across our platform. These aren’t just subtitled videos. They’re mobile-ready, native Spanish resources built to deliver critical information clearly and confidently.
2. SafetyReports Spanish Mode 
   We’ve integrated Spanish Mode into SafetyReports, allowing field users to complete inspections, report incidents, and submit data in their preferred language. This is more than a toggle to switch between languages — it’s a shift in how we think about user experience in the field.
3. BusyBusy Spanish Onboarding 
   In BusyBusy, our Onboarding Channel allows companies to push training content, policies, and first-day expectations in Spanish straight to a crew member’s phone. It’s a powerful way to give every worker a confident start, regardless of language proficiency.
4. Coming Soon: Spanish Inspections Checklists 
   And coming soon, we’re launching Spanish inspection checklists to ensure accuracy and ease of use for the forms that matter most on every site. Taken together, these tools don’t just improve communication. They reduce rework. They increase engagement. They enhance safety. And they bring your whole team onto the same playing field — without friction.

A future for multi-lingual language inclusion

Language gaps aren’t just a workforce issue. They’re a scalability issue.

You can’t scale safely or profitably when a third of your team is excluded from the systems meant to support them. You can’t meet productivity targets when you’re operating with silent inefficiencies. And you definitely can’t build a strong safety culture when half your crew can’t engage with the training you’ve invested in.

Closing the language gap isn’t about being “nice.” It’s about being smart. It’s about driving retention, reducing risk, and boosting margin through better communication,  the kind that actually lands, every time. The future of construction operations is multilingual. Not someday,  today.

At AlignOps, we’re building toward that future with tools that speak to your entire workforce,  not just a subset. Whether it’s onboarding, safety, inspections, or daily workflows, we believe that everyone on your crew deserves access, clarity, and confidence. Because when you remove the communication barrier, what’s left is alignment. And aligned teams don’t just operate better. They outperform.