Overcoming obstacles to recruiting small construction contractors to safety research

Background and Objectives Falls account for many deaths and disabling injuries affecting U.S. workers, especially in construction. Latinos, non-union workers, and employees of small companies are at particularly high risk. Intervention programs have sought to reduce falls in construction, but mainly with large companies. Leaders in Safe Construction (LISC), a worksite safety program developed by the community-based participatory research (CBPR) project Protección en Construcción: Lawrence Latino Safety Partnership, is enrolling small and large, union and non-union contractors employing Latino workers. Safety researchers have expressed great interest in methods to involve these types of contractors. Methods LISC gathered input from contractors, union leaders, community activists, and local government officials on messages, techniques, and channels to attract local contractors. Potential participants are exposed to reinforcing messages through ethnic media; outreach at government offices, health care providers, and service agencies; and information presented at project activities responding to their needs, such as OSHA 10-hour trainings and informational breakfasts. A key is personal outreach through longstanding networks built around churches, business collaborations, and the Laborers union. Messages address contractors' interests in improving their businesses and allay common concerns. Results LISC has recruited 12 participants. Most are small, Spanish-speaking contractors. We anticipate meeting the recruitment goal of 24. We have a log of messages and methods that have been effective or ineffective. Conclusions Established community networks, local media, and creative messaging based on stakeholder input can recruit participants typically inaccessible to research. CBPR is important for interventions with vulnerable occupational groups.