Occupational risks and injuries in non-agricultural immigrant Latino workers.
BACKGROUND
To investigate occupational health in urban immigrant Latino workers, using a community-based method.


METHODS
A survey was administered through consecutively selected door-to-door interviews.


RESULTS
Response rate was 80% (n = 427). Average time in the US was 7.6 years, and average job tenure was 2.8 years. Twenty-five reported exposures to over 10 different hazards, and 18% thought these hazards had harmed their health. Only 31% received any job safety training; 55% had no workers' compensation coverage. Of the 47 (11%) with a work injury in the past 3 years, 27% reported difficulty obtaining treatment, 91% lost time from work (median = 13 days) and 29% had to change jobs because of the injury. The annual occupational injury rate was 12.2/100 full-time workers, compared to an expected rate of 7.1.


CONCLUSIONS
Urban immigrant workers have increased risk of occupational injuries, with adverse outcomes.
Liberty Mutual Center for Disability Research, 71 Frankland Road, Hopkinton, Massachusetts 01701, USA. glenn.pransky@libertymutual.com
Glenn
G
Pransky
Daniel
D
Moshenberg
Katy
K
Benjamin
Silvia
S
Portillo
Jeffrey Lee
JL
Thackrey
Carolyn
C
Hill-Fotouhi
D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D004641:Emigration and Immigration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016272:Occupational Health; D012306:Risk; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D014505:Urban Population; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*