Reducing day laborers' injuries and illnesses: Understanding the role of workers' centers for improving work environments

The purpose of this pilot research project was to understand the organizational structure and the role of workers' centers for improving work environments. The focus of this case study was to understand how each workers' center addressed the needs of the members, and determine the tools needed to enable the worker centers' to protect the health and safety of their members. This project used participatory action research methods and the project research team included representatives from the worker centers and university based occupational health and safety faculty and staff. These partners collaborated in the development of this project including research design, methods and timeline, data gathering, data analysis, communication with relevant audiences and study design for future intervention effectiveness research activities. While the four worker centers were different in many ways, there were characteristics common to all centers. These included the center itself is a safe and stable place for workers to meet and problem solve, providing help in obtaining legal and health services and, staff and worker leaders commitment to fostering leadership skill. Additionally, the centers used a variety of training approaches that incorporated popular education methods and had similar challenges in addressing health and safety issues. Recommendations for increasing visibility of health and safety issues at each of the workers' centers included increasing access to health clinics and/or health services; increasing health and safety awareness in everyday activities; conducting train-the-trainer courses for staff and worker leaders; and identifying and creating center specific materials.