250131 Overcoming obstacles to recruiting small construction contractors to safety research

Monday, October 31, 2011

MIlagro Grullon , Lawrence Community Connections, Lawrence, MA
Lenore S. Azaroff, ScD , Department of Work Environment, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA
Erick Nunez , Lawrence Community Connections, Lawrence, MA
Susan Shepherd, ScD , Dept. of Work Environment, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA
Maria Brunette, PhD , Dept. of Work Environment, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA
Cora Roelofs, ScD , Department of Work Environment, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA
Doris Anziani, Promotora , c/o Dept of Work Environment, Proteccion en Construccion, Lowell, MA
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.

Learning Areas:
Diversity and culture
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Occupational health and safety

Learning Objectives:
Describe methods for recruiting small construction contractors for safety intervention research. Describe some contributions of community-based participatory research to developing methods and messages that are effective at involving vulerable groups in occupational health research.

Keywords: Occupational Health Programs, Latino Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have developed much of the content of the presentation and am experienced at delivering this type of presentation.
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.