title: Using community-based methods and a social ecological framework to explore workplace health and safety of bloqueros on the Olympic Peninsula.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Occupational health and safety issues among Latino immigrants are increasingly important as increased immigration has led to a burgeoning workforce with limited English language skills or lack of documentation status. Foreign-born Latino immigrants are consistently the ethnic group with the highest occupational mortality rates in the United States. We aimed to understand and document the occupational safety and health hazards faced by a particularly at-risk Latino immigrant workforce--cedar block cutters, or bloqueros--on the Olympic Peninsula.
  
  
  METHODS
  Key informant interviews were conducted using community-based participatory methods. Qualitative analysis was guided by grounded theory and a social ecological framework.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirteen interviews were conducted lasting 1-2 hr each. Three prominent findings arose: (1) bloqueros face occupational risks similar to those found in other forestry occupations, (2) bloqueros face unexpected risks that are likely unique to block cutting, and (3) bloqueros face four overlapping marginalization forces (societal, economical, political, and occupational) that undermine workplace health and safety.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Bloqueros work low-paying, high-risk jobs with little health and safety regulation, documentation, or coverage. Workers' precarious socio-economic position and various structural factors compound workplace risks and contribute to a lack of ability to advocate for safer and healthier working conditions.
authors.affiliation: Pacific Northwest Agricultural Health and Safety Center, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA. jcampe@u.washington.edu
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Campe
authors.forename: Lesley
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hoare
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hagopian
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Keifer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D055812:Community-Based Participatory Research; D004463:Ecology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016468:Forestry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000517:prevention & control; D016272:Occupational Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011203:Poverty; D011634:Public Health / Q000379:methods; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017751:Safety Management; D012931:Social Environment; D012934:Social Isolation; D014861:Washington; D017132:Workplace / Q000706:statistics & numerical data