This article reviews the higher fatality and injury rates among the Hispanic population in the United States, whether legal immigrants, citizens, or illegal immigrants; reviews the current government and private industry regulations and safety programs; proposes additional legislation or programs; and describes the role of the occupational and environmental health nurse in reducing injuries and fatalities in this population.
American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations. (2005, August). Immigrant workers at risk: The urgent need for improved workplace safety and health policies and programs. Retrieved from www.aflcio.org/aboutus/laborday/upload/immigrant_risk.pdf
BouchardC. (2007). Literacy and hazard communication: Ensuring workers understand the information they receive. AAOHN Journal, 55(1), 18–25.
6.
BrunetteM. J. (2004). Construction safety research in the United States: Targeting the Hispanic workforce. Injury Prevention, 10, 244–248.
7.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Electronic Library for Construction Occupational Safety and Health (eLCOSH). Retrieved from www.cdc.gov/elcosh
Pfizer. (2003, March). Eradicating low health literacy: The first public health movement of the 21st century. Retrieved from www.npsf.org/askme3/pdfs/white_paper.pdf
RogersB. (2003). Occupational and environmental health nursing concepts and practice. Philadelphia: Saunders.
22.
StrongL. L.ZimmermanF. J. (2005, July). Occupational injury and absence from work among African American, Hispanic, and non-Hispanic white workers in the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth. American Journal of Public Health, 95(7), 1126–1232.