Hi,

How safe is it for immigrants to work in the United States? Perhaps someone who is reading this can comment first hand, and we encourage you to do so in the comment section below. It is imperative that we not just look at statistics but that we listen and learn. Safety is crucial for all workers in this country.

In 1970, the Occupational Safety and Health Act was enacted; placing the responsibility “to protect all working men and women in this Nation” upon the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) shoulders. The question today, over 37 years later, is has OSHA frankly, done their job and lived up to their responsibility required in this Act?

In February of 2002, the subcommittee of OSHA, in charge of this Act, meet to focus on statistics from 1992-2002. These statistics had revealed alarming fatalities and workplace injury rates among Hispanic/Latino population. Specifically, the statistics revealed that the overall injury/illness incident rate had dropped by 31% and the overall fatal workplace injury rate had additionally declined by 2%. From this data, however, it was revealed that the rate within the Hispanic/Latino worker population of injury and fatalities had actually increased by 11.6%. This percentage specifically reflects Hispanic/Latino workers (see the charts below for additional race statistics). Additionally, of the overall rate, the Hispanic/Latino worker population accounted for an extremely disproportionate number of workplace fatalities in 2000–13.8% compared with their proportion of employment–which was 10.7 percent.

When the subcommittee looked more closely, they realized that the vast majority of all foreign born immigrant workers in this country, not just the Hispanic/Latino population, were employed in the dangerous industries. For example, the construction industry in 2002 accounted for 7% of all immigrant employment and accounted for 20% of the fatalities. Clearly, the issue had to be addressed. The question is, has it? Let’s go on.

As a result of this meeting in 2002, it was determined that a broad range of employment related services must be put into place for all non-English speaking and/or immigrant workers in the United States. These services included; workplace to include mining health safety training and information provided in the languages and native tongues that workers speak (Spanish, Italian, Arabic..), enforcement of wage and hour laws on employers, pension and retirement information–again, provided in the worker’s native language and employment training (included teaching of the English language). The ultimate goal of these services was to reach immigrant and non-English speaking workers enabling them to have more employment opportunities and less injuries and fatalities on the job.

So how has providing these services, enforcing these services, worked and helped since the enacting of the Act in 1970 and the reconvening of the subcommittee in 2002? Easy answer to this question, it has not.

Under the Bush administration, regulatory activity at OSHA has ground to a halt; meaning continually delayed or closed. Immigrant workers are now at risk of on the job injury or fatality more so than ever. Safety manuals are not interpreted for workers, wages are not even at the minimal mark, communication among English speaking co-workers is extremely limited and opportunities for varying employment are extremely limited.

The most recent job fatality data released (2005) shows 5,734 fatal workplace injuries with the most significant increases to be within the Black or African-American, foreign-born and young worker populations (see chart below for additional race statistics). It must be taken into consideration, additionally, that this number is probably not totally “pure” as underreporting of foreign-born worker injury is considered rampant due to immigrants not knowing how or whom to report the injury. Many also fear being fired or harassed or being reported to the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Clearly, just as the economy, the workforce and workplace hazards are changing. As a country, we are falling further and further behind in our efforts to protect workers from both new and existing problems. So what needs to be done? Very simply, protect our workers–all workers. This sadly, however will only happen with an administration that believes in and supports real reforms and improvements and will put them into law. Only then will the promise of ample employment opportunities and safe jobs for all America’s workers finally be fulfilled.

Your comments are welcome!

Since life has no reset button….tune into this blog and to our website daily. Safe Living, Yovette Mumford