Risk perception and acceptance regarding workplace safety among Hispanic immigrant workers

The typical lifestyle of Hispanic immigrant workers (HIW) creates certain barriers to being safe at work, along with particular means of risk perception and acceptance regarding these barriers and safety at work. Risk perception and acceptance are detailed constructs that attempt to explain the way individuals conceptualize and react to specific hazards in the environment. The purpose of this presentation is to explore and introduce these constructs and the barriers faced by HIW, which will potentially allow us to improve the safety of these workers on the job. The barriers faced by HIW are an outcome of their life situations. They are at increased exposure to hazardous events and are more likely to be affected by environmental racism (Exter, 1985). Furthermore, educational barriers in this population make it less likely for them to understand safety rules, messages, and trainings, (Arcury & Quandt, 2007). Finally, immigration is a large source of worry for HIW, and they are more willing to take jobs that are less healthy, less safe, and less concerned about their employees because of their fears of being deported. In many ways, these barriers have the potential to decrease the amount of risk perceived by these workers and increase their acceptance of these risks; however, these HIW have not been examined by researchers in depth. This presentation will address the issues facing this population and suggest future research venues. Understanding the antecedents of unsafe work behavior in this population is the first step to reducing this negative outcome.