CDC Requests Comments Regarding Occupational Safety and Health Training for Spanish-Speaking Construction Workers
In today’s Federal Register, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced it is seeking comments on a new information collection request entitled, “Field Testing of Spanish-Language Toolbox Talks for Spanish-Speaking Construction Workers.” “Toolbox talks” are brief (approximately 5-10 minutes) occupational safety and health instructional sessions designed to be delivered on the work site or at the contractor’s office. This new ICR will evaluate Spanish-language toolbox talks with Spanish-speaking construction workers to assess the effectiveness of toolbox talks as an OSH training method for this audience.
The CDC is assessing toolbox talks for Spanish-speaking construction workers to help address the fact that there are approximately 1.8 million Spanish-speaking workers employed in construction. Moreover, CDC observes that Latino workers are injured and killed at rates 2–3 times higher than non-Latino construction workers. The CDC notes that among the challenges to addressing this disparity and its impact on the OSH needs of the larger construction industry is the large proportion of Latino workers employed by of small businesses. Over 40% of Spanish-speaking construction workers work for businesses employing 10 or fewer workers, and these small establishments have a higher risk of fatal injuries. This is due to several factors, including that these smaller entities have more limited resources to apply to OSH training needs. In 2010 alone, 56.3% of construction deaths occurred in establishments with fewer than 20 employees. From 2003–2008, small establishments with 1–10 employees reported an average of 47% work-related deaths among Latino workers, while employing 44% of the Latino construction workers.