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Occupational Health and Safety Experiences among Self-Identified Immigrant Workers Living or Working in Somerville, MA by Ethnicity, Years in the US, and English Proficiency

Author

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  • Bindu Panikkar

    (Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, USA
    Present address: Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA.)

  • Mark A. Woodin

    (Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, USA
    Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Tufts University, Boston, MA 02111, USA)

  • Doug Brugge

    (Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Tufts University, Boston, MA 02111, USA)

  • Anne Marie Desmarais

    (Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, USA)

  • Raymond Hyatt

    (Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Tufts University, Boston, MA 02111, USA)

  • Rose Goldman

    (Cambridge Health Alliance, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA)

  • Alex Pirie

    (Immigrant Service Providers Group/Health, Somerville, MA 02143, USA)

  • Marcy Goldstein-Gelb

    (Massachusetts Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health, Dorchester, MA 02122, USA)

  • Heloisa Galvão

    (Brazilian Women's Group, Allston, MA 02134, USA)

  • Monica Chianelli

    (Vida Verde Co-Operative, Allston, MA 02134, USA)

  • Ismael Vasquez

    (Community Action Agency of Somerville, Somerville, MA 02143, USA)

  • Melissa McWhinney

    (Community Action Agency of Somerville, Somerville, MA 02143, USA)

  • Franklin Dalembert

    (Haitian Coalition, Somerville, MA 02144, USA)

  • David M. Gute

    (Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, USA)

Abstract

In this community based research initiative, we employed a survey instrument predominately developed and administered by Teen Educators to assess occupational health risks for Haitian, Salvadoran, and Brazilian immigrants (n = 405) in Somerville, MA, USA. We demonstrate that a combined analysis of ethnicity, years in the US, and English proficiency better characterized the occupational experience of immigrant workers than considering these variables individually. While years in the US (negatively) and English proficiency (positively) explained the occurrence of health risks, the country of origin identified the most vulnerable populations in the community. Brazilians, Salvadorans, and other Hispanic, all of whom who have been in the US varying length of time, with varying proficiency in English language had twice the odds of reporting injuries due to work compared to other immigrants. Although this observation was not significant it indicates that years in the US and English proficiency alone do not predict health risks among this population. We recommend the initiation of larger studies employing c community based participatory research methods to confirm these differences and to further explore work and health issues of immigrant populations. This study is one of the small number of research efforts to utilize a contemporaneous assessment of occupational health problems in three distinct immigrant populations at the community level within a specific Environmental Justice context and social milieu.

Suggested Citation

  • Bindu Panikkar & Mark A. Woodin & Doug Brugge & Anne Marie Desmarais & Raymond Hyatt & Rose Goldman & Alex Pirie & Marcy Goldstein-Gelb & Heloisa Galvão & Monica Chianelli & Ismael Vasquez & Melissa M, 2012. "Occupational Health and Safety Experiences among Self-Identified Immigrant Workers Living or Working in Somerville, MA by Ethnicity, Years in the US, and English Proficiency," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 9(12), pages 1-18, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:9:y:2012:i:12:p:4452-4469:d:21990
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    References listed on IDEAS

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