ASSE is taking several steps to address the growing problem of increased workplace
injuries and fatalities among Latino workers. Although private-sector injury and
illness rates dropped 35 percent between 1992 and 2001, fatalities among Latino
workers in the United States jumped by 67 percent during the same period. And
despite a drop in the percentage of Latino fatalities in 2002, the 840 deaths
that year represent the second highest annual total of deaths among that population
recorded by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
ASSE has launched a "Safety Professionals and the Latino Workforce"
interest group. At its first meeting, held during ASSE's annual conference
in Las Vegas earlier this month, participants addressed topics including overcoming
cultural and language barriers, and the merits of hands-on over textbook training.
They also discussed how to identify and develop resources to increase safety
for the Latino working population.
In an address to conference participants, NIOSH director Dr. John Howard noted
that, "Latino workplace safety is a national, regional, state, and local
safety issue." ASSE is working with NIOSH and OSHA to develop risk communications
that meet the unique needs of this group. Among requirements, the training must
be effective without assuming a consistent level of education on the part of
the worker. Both OSHA and NIOSH currently have added Spanish language pages
to their websites.