title: A qualitative investigation of Hispanic construction worker perspectives on factors impacting worksite safety and risk.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hispanic workers have higher rates of injury and death on construction worksites than workers of other ethnicities. Language barriers and cultural differences have been hypothesized as reasons behind the disparate rates.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted two series of focus groups with union and non-union Hispanic construction workers to ask them about their perceptions of the causes for the unequal rates. Spanish transcripts were translated and coded in QSR NVivo software for common themes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Workers reported a difficult work environment characterized by supervisor pressure, competition for jobs and intimidation with regard to raising safety concerns. Language barriers or cultural factors were not strongly represented as causative factors behind the rates.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study have informed the development of an intervention trial that seeks to prevent falls and silica dust exposure by training contractors employing Hispanic construction workers in the elements of safety leadership, including building respect for their Hispanic workers and facilitating their participation in a safety program.
authors.affiliation: Department of Work Environment, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA 01854, USA. Cora_Roelofs@uml.edu
authors.forename: Cora
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Roelofs
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sprague-Martinez
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brunette
authors.forename: Lenore
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Azaroff
mesh_terms: D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D060389:Construction Industry; D004391:Dust; D017144:Focus Groups; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008404:Massachusetts; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control; D016272:Occupational Health; D012306:Risk; D012449:Safety; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D004391:Dust; D012822:Silicon Dioxide