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.
Pransky
Glenn
G
Liberty Mutual Center for Disability Research, 71 Frankland Road, Hopkinton, Massachusetts 01701, USA. glenn.pransky@libertymutual.com
Moshenberg
Daniel
D
Benjamin
Katy
K
Portillo
Silvia
S
Thackrey
Jeffrey Lee
JL
Hill-Fotouhi
Carolyn
C
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*