Rafael Moure-Eraso, chairperson of the U.S. Chemical Safety Board, has posted an Op-Ed piece in the Houston Chronicle discussing the toll that hazardous work takes on Latinos. The CSB is responsible for investigating chemical disasters in facilities across Texas and in the United States. According to Moure-Eraso and the investigations of the CSB, the fatality and injury rates for Latinos are disproportionately high.
According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, approximately 4,405 workers died while working on the job in the United States in 2013. The fatality rate for workers came to 3.2 workers killed for every 100,000 individuals in the workplace. Moure-Eraso noted that the overall fatality rate has actually been declining in the United States. At the same time, however, the fatality rate for Latino workers has actually increased. The fatality rate for Latino workers in 2013 was 3.8 worker fatalities for every 100,000 workers. Of the approximately 4,405 workers who died in 2013, 797 were Latino.
Why Are Latinos Disproportionately At Risk?
Latinos are particularly susceptible to suffering injuries in the construction and agriculture industries. Moure-Eraso, however, noted that Latino workers also face significant dangers in the petrochemical industry. In 2013, 148 workers died in fires and explosions, of which 20 were Hispanic workers. What’s more, 330 workers also died from exposure to harmful substances or environments. Hispanic workers comprised 68 of these deaths.
So what is the reason that Latino workers are disproportionately affected by workplace injuries and fatalities? Moure-Eraso cited a report from UC Berkeley that attributes this to the fact that Latino workers “are overrepresented in jobs with low wages and dangerous working conditions, less likely to have adequate training or health insurance, and sometimes lacking enough English language skills to access safety information.” Furthermore, the report also recognizes that these workers are often afraid to exercise their rights to raise health and safety concerns. Some workers may fear retaliation, such as being reported for deportation.
In addition, Moure-Eraso notes that many Latinos live near chemical facilities that pose a risk. An environmental justice study found that “the percentage of Latinos living in fence line zones to be 60 percent greater than for the U.S. as a whole.” Moure-Eraso believes that more needs to be done to help improve workplace safety for Latino workers.
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