Occupational Health and Safety

Social injustice in the workplace is demonstrated by health disparities and by disproportionate representation of workers of color in the most hazardous jobs. It is also demonstrated by the lack of workplace democracy. It reflects injustice in other spheres of society. This chapter describes social...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inSocial Injustice and Public Health
Main Authors Taylor, Andrea Kidd, Murray, Linda Rae
Format Book Chapter
LanguageEnglish
Published Oxford University Press 01.08.2013
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Summary:Social injustice in the workplace is demonstrated by health disparities and by disproportionate representation of workers of color in the most hazardous jobs. It is also demonstrated by the lack of workplace democracy. It reflects injustice in other spheres of society. This chapter describes social injustice regarding occupational health and safety in both historical and presentday contexts. It also describes other issues, such as the impact of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, a theoretical framework for health inequities, income disparities in the United States, unemployment and job insecurity, and issues related to gender, race, ethnicity, and class. It then describes social injustice issues related to prison labor, child labor, and immigrant workers. The chapter addresses what needs to be done, including educating workers and communities, addressing structural racism and preventing discrimination, promoting workplace democracy, improving surveillance and research, and reforming OSHA and workers’ compensation. A textbox addresses economic globalization.
ISBN:0199939225
9780199939220
DOI:10.1093/med/9780199939220.003.0019