Work-Related Health Complaints and Injuries, and Health and Safety Perceptions of Latino Day Laborers

• Published in: Workplace health & safety Vol. 63; no. 8; p. 350
• Main Authors: Burgel, Barbara J, Nelson, Jr, Ronald W, White, Mary C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.08.2015
• Subjects: Accidents, Occupational - statistics & numerical data; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Hispanic Americans - statistics & numerical data; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Occupational Diseases - epidemiology; Prevalence; Protective Devices - utilization; San Francisco - epidemiology; Surveys and Questionnaires; San Francisco; health and safety training; personal protective equipment; injury; health and safety perceptions; Hispanic day laborers
• ISSN: 2165-0799
• DOI: 10.1177/2165079915592746

This study describes socio-demographic, health, and work factors as well as health and safety perceptions of day laborers who reported work-related health complaints and injuries. The researchers completed a secondary data analysis of 217 interviews conducted in 2009 with day laborers in a large city. The participants reported 83 health complaints or injuries (38%) that had occurred during the prior 12 months, with 57 of these complaints or injuries resulting in lost work time. Pain and soreness of the back were the most prevalent health complaints or injuries; 66% of participants did not report their injuries, 62% reported no health and safety training, 96% reported they needed personal protective equipment (PPE), and 63% were provided with PPE. Latino day laborers reported a high 12-month prevalence of work-related health complaints and injuries. Ongoing policy work is needed to encourage injury reporting by day laborers and the provision of health and safety training and PPE to this group of workers.