Premium
Latino immigrant day laborer perceptions of occupational safety and health information preferences
Author(s) -
Díaz Fuentes Claudia M.,
Martinez Pantoja Leonardo,
Tarver Meshawn,
Geschwind Sandy A.,
Lara Marielena
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
american journal of industrial medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1097-0274
pISSN - 0271-3586
DOI - 10.1002/ajim.22575
Subject(s) - thematic analysis , medicine , focus group , occupational safety and health , psychological intervention , immigration , occupational injury , perception , work (physics) , environmental health , gerontology , qualitative research , nursing , human factors and ergonomics , poison control , psychology , marketing , sociology , engineering , business , social science , mechanical engineering , archaeology , pathology , neuroscience , history
Background We address immigrant day laborers' experiences with occupational safety in the construction industry in New Orleans, and opinions about content and method of communication for educational interventions to reduce occupational risks. Methods In 2011, we conducted seven focus groups with 48 Spanish‐speaking day laborers (8 women, 40 men, 35 years on average). Focus group results are based on thematic analysis. Results Most employers did not provide safety equipment, threatened to dismiss workers who asked for it, and did not provide health insurance. Attitudes toward accepting unsafe work conditions varied. Women faced lower pay and hiring difficulties than men. Day laborers preferred audio format over written, and content about consequences from and equipment for different jobs/exposures. Conclusions Day laborers have common occupational experiences, but differences existed by gender, literacy and sense of control over safety. Day laborer information preferences and use of media needs further studying. Am. J. Ind. Med. 59:476–485, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.