Controlling the Growing Epidemic of Hispanic-Worker Fatalities in US Construction-Related Accidents

摘要

Statistics show that Hispanic workers are more likely to die in the workplace than other American workers. In 2004, Hispanic workers made up 13 percent of the US workforce, but accounted for 16 percent of work-related fatalities. Predictions made by the Department of Labor indicate that the Hispanic population will increase from 14.2 percent of the US population in 2004, to 24.4 percent in 2050. This increase, driven largely by the immigration of foreign-born workers, will affect the composition of the future American workforce. Construction work, which traditionally attracts immigrant workers, continues to remain as one of the deadliest occupations for both Hispanic and non-Hispanic workers in the United States. In fact, Hispanics accounted for 25 percent (307 out of 1224) of construction work-related deaths in 2004. Due to lower education rates and a lack of proficiency in the English language, Hispanic immigrant workers will further complicate the safety of construction jobsites. Cultural issues within the Hispanic community also contribute to problems with safety. This paper will address the some of the training issues and means regarding this particular demographic group, in the hopes that construction managers will incorporate these measures to reverse the trend of increasing Hispanic construction work-related fatality rates.