American Journal of Industrial Medicine
Volume 57, Issue 5, 2014, Pages 516-526

Characterizing the low wage immigrant workforce: A comparative analysis of the health disparities among selected occupations in Somerville, Massachusetts (Article)

Panikkar B.* , Woodin M.A. , Brugge D. , Hyatt R. , Gute D.M.
  • a Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA, United States
  • b Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA, United States
  • c Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Tufts University, Boston, MA, United States
  • d Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Tufts University, Boston, MA, United States
  • e Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA, United States

Abstract

Background: This study estimates job-related risks among common low wage occupations (cleaning, construction, food service, cashier/baggers, and factory workers) held by predominantly Haitian, El Salvadorian, and Brazilian immigrants living or working in Somerville, Massachusetts. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional survey on immigrant occupational health was conducted between 2006 and 2009 and logistic regression was used to assess the job-related risks among the most common low wage occupations. Results: Construction workers reported significantly higher health risks, and lower access to occupational health services than the other occupations. Compared to cashier/baggers, the reference population in this study, cleaners reported significantly lower access to health and safety and work training and no knowledge of workers' compensation. Factory workers reported significantly lower work training compared to cashier/baggers. Food service workers reported the least access to doctors compared to the other occupations. Conclusion: We found significant variability in risks among different low wage immigrant occupations. The type of occupation independently contributed to varying levels of risks among these jobs. We believe our findings to be conservative and recommend additional inquiry aimed at assuring the representativeness of our findings. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Author Keywords

construction workers Immigrant health occupational health Factory workers Cleaners Community based participatory research

Index Keywords

Massachusetts health disparity Health Status Disparities occupational disease human middle aged statistics and numerical data comparative study Occupational Health Services occupational health service Occupational Diseases Logistic Models Salaries and Fringe Benefits ethnology salary and fringe benefit Cross-Sectional Studies Haiti United States cross-sectional study migrant occupational accident Humans Occupational Injuries male Emigrants and Immigrants female risk factor Risk Factors adult Brazil statistical model occupational health health care delivery Health Services Accessibility El Salvador
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84897571483&doi=10.1002%2fajim.22181&partnerID=40&md5=f2e6588cfe274e329bbe36fd9d3b87b4
DOI: 10.1002/ajim.22181
ISSN: 02713586
Cited by: 13
Original Language: English