The number of immigrants in the United States has steadily risen since the 1970s, now constituting 13.7% of the population and 17% of the workforce (Budiman, 2020). Despite making up 8.2% of the workforce, foreign-born Hispanic or Latino workers accounted for a disproportionately high 14% of work-related fatalities in 2021. Similarly, 84.3% of all worker fatalities among Asians and 64.3% of all Hispanic or Latino worker fatalities were immigrants (Castillo, 2023), indicating that immigrants often work in riskier jobs and industries with more severe injury and fatality rates.

This study aims to explore the factors that contribute to heightened risk and vulnerability in workplace safety among immigrant workers and the effects on their physical and mental health. It is hypothesized that these factors will include limited English proficiency, lower educational attainment, and cultural differences in risk perception. This study includes two phases. Phase one is a literature review methodology, focusing on peer-reviewed journal articles, industry reports, and case studies published within the last decade. Databases such as PubMed and Google Scholar will be searched using keywords related to immigrant workers, workplace safety, and occupational health. Phase two will employ a survey created with Qualtrics, utilizing an incentive with USP funding to administer to survey to participants, and disseminated on social media to examine the relationship between workplace safety and physical and mental health outcomes. The survey will directly capture the experiences and perceptions of immigrant workers, providing insights that bridge the gap between academic research and real-world consequences on health and well-being.

The data presented in this proposal underscore the urgent need for inclusive, evidence-based reforms in worker safety. The insights gained from this research have the potential to help guide public policy, thereby improving the health and safety of workers across the country. This project will assist me in my future healthcare career by increasing my cultural competency, health literacy, and advocacy skills. As an aspiring speech-language pathologist, this study will enable me to provide culturally and linguistically appropriate services more effectively and empathetically and tailor rehabilitation plans for patients with workplace injuries.

References

Budiman, A. (2020, August 20). Key findings about U.S. immigrants. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2020/08/20/key-findings-about-u-s-immigrants/

Castillo, J. (2023, October). Fatal Injuries to Foreign-Born Hispanic or Latino Workers. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. https://www.bls.gov/spotlight/2023/workplace-fatalities-among-foreign-born-hispanic-workers/home.htm

Underwood, E. (2018, July 18). Unhealthy work: Why migrants are especially vulnerable to injury and death on the job. Knowable Magazine | Annual Reviews. https://knowablemagazine.org/content/article/society/2018/unhealthy-work-why-migrants-are-especially-vulnerable-injury-and-death-job