182511 Language and Cultural Equality in Workplace Health and Safety

Tuesday, October 28, 2008: 11:15 AM

Pamela Tau-Lee , School of Public Health, UC Berkeley, Labor Occupational Health Program, Berkeley, CA
Dinorah Barton-Antonio, MPH , School of Public Health, UC Berkeley, Labor Occupational Health Progra, Berkeley, FL, Albania
Significant efforts have been made to advance workplace health and safety protection for non-English speaking immigrant workers. NIOSH, NIEHS, OSHA (both federal and state), ERCs, public health departments, COSH groups, unions and community based organizations are engaged in a wide range of activities focusing on and involving non-English speakers. These groups have explored and developed new and creative ways to engage diverse populations such as Spanish/Latino, Chinese, Russian, Vietnamese, Hatian, Oaxacan and other non-English speakers in activities such as education for action and change, participatory action research, and collaborative partnerships with university and government agencies. Achieving full and equal participation of non-English speakers has been mixed. This session will critically examine approaches and methods for enabling non-English speakers to speak and take action for workplace health and safety. This session will also explore recommendaons for future practice.

Learning Objectives:
Participants will be able to: identify 3 key principles for facilitating full and equal participation of non-English speaking workers in programs focused on workplace health and safety. describe challenges that can block full and equal participation of non-English speakers in activities such as training for action, collaborative partnerships with academics and other health professionals. discuss recommendations to achieve deeper and fuller participation of non-English speaking workers in area of worker health and safety.

Keywords: Immigrants, Cultural Competency

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have not received any financial benefit from my participation in the work described in my abstract listed above.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.