Recent immigrants and refugees have higher rates of work-related injuries and illnesses compared to Canadian-born workers. As a result, they are often labelled as vulnerable workers. This study explored the factors that contribute to occupational health and safety (OHS) vulnerability of recent immigrants and refugees with a focus on modifiable factors such as exposure to hazards and access to workplace protections, awareness of OHS and worker rights, and empowerment to act on those rights. Eighteen focus groups were conducted with 110 recent immigrants and refugees about their experiences looking for work and in their first jobs in Canada. A thematic content analysis was used to organize the data and to identify and report themes. The jobs described by participants typically involved poor working conditions and exposure to hazards without adequate workplace protections. Most participants had limited knowledge of OHS and employment rights and tended to not voice safety concerns to employers. Understanding OHS vulnerability from the lens of workplace context can help identify modifiable conditions that affect the risk of injury and illness among recent immigrants and refugees. Safe work integration depends on providing these workers with information about their rights, adequate job training, and opportunities for participating in injury prevention. © 2018 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

Employment immigrants qualitative Occupational health and safety vulnerability

information processing legal rights immigrant refugee employer human work environment Refugees middle aged controlled study Humans migrant workplace worker male Canada voice Emigrants and Immigrants occupational exposure female Behavior qualitative analysis standards vulnerability health and safety Article awareness adult drug safety content analysis Accident Prevention occupational health empowerment employment Power (Psychology) Focus Groups immigrant population