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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

X. Dong, Center to Protect Workers' Rights, 8484 Georgia Ave. Suite 1000, Silver Spring, MD 20910, 301-578-8500, sdong@cpwr.com

In light of demographic changes in the United States, the construction industry is characterized by a large, young, and quickly growing Hispanic workforce, coupled with a sizable and persistent difference in occupational fatalities between Hispanic and non-Hispanic construction workers. Protecting safety and health of Hispanic workers is a critical challenge facing the construction industry.

To examine this important focus area in construction safety and health research, we conducted targeted health services research on Hispanic construction workers using a large national population-based health survey —Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (1996-2002). The specific aims of this project include: 1) identify work-related injuries among Hispanic construction workers, including self-employed workers; 2) examine utilization of health services associated with such injuries; 3) assess disparities in health services between Hispanic and non-Hispanic white construction workers; and 4) identify major factors contributing to the disparities.

The initial findings show that compared with non-Hispanic white construction workers, Hispanic workers were more likely to suffer work-related injuries. The injured Hispanic workers were more likely to be hospitalized and less likely to use office-based services than their non-Hispanic white counterparts. Hispanic workers were also less likely to have a regular place to go for their health problems. Several demographic and socioeconomic factors contributed to the difference, including: years in the US, union status, educational attainment, employment status, etc. Descriptive and multivariate analyses have been done with SUDAAN.

Learning Objectives:

• 1) Provide safety and health, and health services information on Hispanic workers in the construction industry.
• 2) Develop strategies to improve health care for Hispanic workers, and promote a healthier workforce in the construction industry and the entire nation.

Keywords: Construction Injuries, Access and Services

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation