Adequacy of Health and Safety Training Among Young Latino Construction Workers

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the adequacy of safety training provided to young Latino immigrant construction workers. The study posited that, because of their youth and immigrant status, these workers would be less likely to receive adequate training. Methods: We interviewed 50 youths aged...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of occupational and environmental medicine 2005-03, Vol.47 (3), p.272-277
Main Authors: O'Connor, Tom, Loomis, Dana, Runyan, Carol, dal Santo, Janet Abboud, Schulman, Michael
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Accidents, Occupational - prevention & control
Adolescent
Adult
Age Factors
Biological and medical sciences
Communication Barriers
Construction
Data Collection
Education
Emigration and Immigration
Facility Design and Construction
Hispanic Americans
Humans
Language
Language proficiency
Legislation. Organization
Medical sciences
Occupational medicine
Occupational safety
ORIGINAL ARTICLES
Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine
Quality Control
Safety
Safety training
Young adults
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Summary:Objectives: This study aimed to assess the adequacy of safety training provided to young Latino immigrant construction workers. The study posited that, because of their youth and immigrant status, these workers would be less likely to receive adequate training. Methods: We interviewed 50 youths aged ≤21 who had worked at least 10 days in construction in the previous year. The in-person interview included 140 questions covering a range of construction work and health and safety experiences. Results: Participants reported performing a range of hazardous tasks, some while under the age of 18. Of these, 68% to 72% reported receiving some training, but median training time was only 1 hour. Only 24% reported receiving written training material. Those with less English ability received less training. Conclusions: Young Latino immigrants in this study received inadequate training given the hazardous work they performed. Clinical Significance: Result of this research, especially the relatively low level of English communication skills among young Latino workers, point to the need for increased bilingual services not just in worker safety training programs, but also in medical clinics and emergency rooms that treat Latino workers.
ISSN:1076-2752
1536-5948
DOI:10.1097/01.jom.0000150204.12937.f5