Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #114810

Deborah Weinstock, MS, Department of Occupational Safety and Health, AFL-CIO, 815 16th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20006, 202-637-5318, dweinstock@michaeldbaker.com

Over the past two decades the number of immigrant workers in the United States has increased significantly, with immigrant workers now accounting for 14 percent of the entire workforce. The increase of immigrants in the workforce has been accompanied by an increase in work-related fatalities and injuries among this population. The rise in fatalities and injuries has been disproportionate, with alarming increases in fatalities and injuries. Between 1997 and 2001, the occupational fatality rate for all foreign-born workers was 20 percent higher than the rate for all workers. The increased risk is due to many factors, including a disproportionate distribution of immigrant workers in high-risk industries, linguistic, cultural and legal barriers. The AFL-CIO advocates a series of policy changes to stem the large numbers of injuries and fatalities among the immigrant population. The advocated changes aim to reduce many of these factors and are largely directed at OSHA. Changes must be made to address immigrant workers' fear of being deported, fired or harassed for coming forward with safety and health concerns. Outreach, training and education programs about job hazards, protections and workers' rights must be enhanced and presented in workers' native languages. Language capabilities of OSHA inspectors must be enhanced to facilitate communication with and outreach to immigrant workers. More research must be done on the risks immigrant workers face. All workers, regardless of immigration status must have access to workers' compensation. The mechanisms by which we gain these crucial protections for immigrant workers will be discussed.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

• Articulate the various risk factors facing immigrant workers with regard to their safety and health at work.
• Understand the recommendations being made to improve immigrant worker safety and health
• Prioritize the recommendations
• Understand the various options for moving the recommendations to improve immigrant workers safety and health forward

Keywords: Immigrants, Safety

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.