NEW SOLUTIONS: A Journal of Environmental and Occupational Health Policy

Globalization—and the manner in which it has been governed during the last decade—has harmed various public policy infrastructures of developing nations, but especially those in health, social, and environmental sectors. The poorest population suffers the most severe consequences, as production takes place in the “informal” economy and in homes. Work safety and health in the informal economy has not gained the attention it warrants and requires, considering that this “sector” constitutes the majority of the world's labor force. The purpose of this article is twofold: (i) to describe the working environment in home-based shoemaking—based on Indonesian and Philippines experience by Markkanen [1]; and (ii) to examine the research framework proposed by Levenstein and Tuminaro in The Political Economy of Occupational Disease [2] and further developed in Wooding and Levenstein, The Point of Production, 1999 [3]. The field investigation by Markkanen employed this approach to explore how hazardous working conditions and inadequate health protection are the product of complex, converging relationships among diverse “actors” or agents at international, national, community, and shoe industry levels.

Evidence suggests that Latino workers, along with other minority and low-income workers, face a higher risk for occupational disease than do other workers. Targeted surveillance and primary prevention interventions have been lacking or inadequate. The authors estimate the number of occupational disease deaths and new cases in Latino workers in the United States. Then, using data from New York City, they find that Latino workers are disproportionately employed in more hazardous occupations and under-represented in less hazardous jobs. They suggest a comprehensive approach to address workplace disease in Latino workers, which involves primary prevention interventions, clinical services, educational approaches, research and surveillance, unionization and organization of workers, and legislation and regulation.

The prevalence of smoking among Latino immigrant workers needs to be addressed with culturally and linguistically appropriate smoking cessation programs. One innovative approach to reaching these workers is through worker health and safety training programs. These programs offer multiple opportunities to provide smoking cessation messages, a “teachable moment” to focus on health issues, and the likelihood that peers and family members will share these messages. A collaborative effort between an occupational health and safety training facility and a university utilizing Latino and non-Latino personnel developed a smoking cessation program integrated with worker health and safety training. Preliminary results of an evaluation of the program indicate that the program was able to reach a wide range of immigrant workers and improve their knowledge of the risks of smoking and the effectiveness of different methods of quitting smoking.

An association of epidemiologists looks at the state of regional public health preparedness in a time of terrorism in a report that gauges regional readiness. The report examined the status of preparations to deal with chemical and radiological events, and looked at planning gaps, resources, and interagency agreements to coordinate emergency response. The research found inadequate levels of preparedness, planning, and established interagency partnerships and puts forth recommendations to improve the nation's ability to respond.