The Swedish construction industry makes extensive use of foreign labour. Communication with the foreign workers is perceived as the biggest challenge, language barriers arise when people do not speak a common language. The purpose of the work is to investigate preventive measures and aids against problems that arise on construction sites due to a language barrier between people whose native language is Swedish and foreign workers, with a focus on safety aspects.

How Swedish companies work to counteract the negative consequences of language barriers on construction sites was analysed through a survey, which was sent out to professionals and white-collar workers who work on construction sites with foreign workers. The survey resulted in their view of the problem, which factors language barriers negatively affect and to what extent. This basis was used to compile recommended methods and tools to prevent language barriers on Swedish construction sites from negatively affecting safety.

The conclusion is that there are many good methods that are already widely used internationally and among the large Swedish companies. The problem is that the problems and challenges of foreign labour are not sufficiently recognized, and that many companies have not yet implemented methods to counter it.