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Worker Perspectives on COVID-19 Risks: A Qualitative Study of Latino Construction Workers in Oakland, California

Author

Listed:
  • Erika Meza

    (Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA)

  • Leslie Giglio

    (Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94110, USA)

  • Ana O. Franco

    (Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA)

  • Elizabeth Rodriguez

    (Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
    Department of Biology, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA 94132, USA)

  • Laura Stock

    (Labor Occupational Health Program, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA)

  • John Balmes

    (Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
    Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94704, USA)

  • Jacqueline M. Torres

    (Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Alicia Fernandez

    (Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94110, USA
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

Abstract

Latino construction workers in the U.S. have faced a disproportionate risk for COVID-19 infection in the workplace. Prior studies have focused on quantifying workplace risk for COVID-19 infection; few have captured workers’ experiences and perspectives. This study describes COVID-19-related workplace risks from the perspectives of Latino construction workers. We conducted a qualitative study using semi-structured phone interviews with Latino construction workers from the Fruitvale District of Oakland, California. Twenty individuals were interviewed from December 2020 to March 2021. Nearly all participants (19/20) were Spanish-speaking men; mean age 42.6 years. The majority were low-income and over one-third did not have health insurance. Participants worked in varied construction-related jobs ranging from demolition to office work; additionally, four were day laborers, and three belonged to a labor union. We identified four major themes with public health policy and workplace safety implications: (1) Major concern about the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection for family health and economic wellbeing; (2) Clarity about mask use and social distancing but not disclosure; (3) Variability in access to additional resources provided by employers; and (4) Uncertainty around structural support for SARS-CoV-2 quarantine/isolation. Our findings provide further evidence from workers’ own perspectives of the major gaps experienced during the pandemic in workplace protections and resources.

Suggested Citation

  • Erika Meza & Leslie Giglio & Ana O. Franco & Elizabeth Rodriguez & Laura Stock & John Balmes & Jacqueline M. Torres & Alicia Fernandez, 2022. "Worker Perspectives on COVID-19 Risks: A Qualitative Study of Latino Construction Workers in Oakland, California," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(16), pages 1-11, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:16:p:9822-:d:883966
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Joanna Gaitens & Marian Condon & Eseosa Fernandes & Melissa McDiarmid, 2021. "COVID-19 and Essential Workers: A Narrative Review of Health Outcomes and Moral Injury," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-18, February.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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