A Comparison of Health and Safety Concerns of Hispanic and Non-Hispanic White Construction and Warehouse Workers

BACKGROUND:   Previous analyses of surveillance data by the Florida Department of Health, Occupational Health and Safety Program (OHSP) found that the construction and warehousing industries were among the highest risk industries for work-related morbidity and mortality in Florida.  Additional analyses of racial/ethnic health disparities found that Hispanics had higher injury rates than non-Hispanic white workers.  A limitation of the surveillance data is that it does not provide information about why rates are elevated among Hispanic workers.  To better understand the health and safety issues that contribute to the disparity in morbidity and mortality between Hispanic and non-Hispanic white construction and warehousing workers, the OHSP initiated a pilot project to gain the perspective of workers and key informants.

METHODS:   The OHSP contracted with Florida International University to carry out this pilot project.  The project had three components: 1) interviews with key informants (labor union, company, and government representatives), 2) focus groups with workers, and 3) a workplace safety climate survey of workers.  The study population included Hispanic and non-Hispanic white construction and warehousing workers/key informants in south Florida.

RESULTS:   In the construction industry, being of Hispanic ethnicity is perceived as increasing the likelihood of injury.  Reasons cited during focus groups included cultural factors (e.g., machismo and a “work fast/more money” mentality), deficiencies in safety training (e.g., not conducted in Spanish), and higher job-loss rates.  Another factor contributing to morbidity among Hispanics in the construction industry is the high amount of subcontracting.  Subcontractors are hired to complete a job quickly and are often not providing adequate training or safety equipment to workers. In the warehousing industry, race/ethnicity is not perceived as playing a role in injury rates.  Factors that may play a larger role include employment status (i.e., hourly/temporary) or type of occupation (e.g., driver).  Additionally, a lack of adequate training, especially forklift training, was reported as a contributing factor.  Workers are often encouraged to work fast, instead of safe, by managers who receive incentives for higher production rates.

CONCLUSIONS:   In both industries, additional safety training is needed and training should be given in a language that is best understood by the worker.  However, it is unlikely that workers will implement safety training changes without a change in workplace culture; a work culture that focuses more on safety.  Currently, there is a disincentive to work safer because subcontractors in construction and managers in warehousing are given incentives to work as fast as possible.