Hispanics shun safety class

Work-related injuries and deaths among Hispanic workers are on the rise, according to federal statistics, while that statistic is falling for the general working population.

But educating Spanish speaking workers about on-the-job safety is proving to be a difficult task.

Two directors of safety education programs directed at Spanish speakers say it's been a challenge to fill the classrooms, even though the courses are offered for free.

"Efforts to reach out and provide training to them has been very ineffective," said Peter Groesbeck, program administrator for the Utah Labor Commission. "We need to understand the dynamics of this working sector of the state's work force."

The Utah Labor Commission, which has provided grants for both programs, is planning a study to find out more about Spanish speaking immigrant workers, in an effort to improve attendance at the safety courses.

Meanwhile, the Utah Labor Commission grant to the Utah Safety Council has been put on hold while the research is conducted.

Bob Parenti, president of the Utah Safety Council, said the Spanish safety course scheduled for August has been canceled.

"That's probably our major challenge — to get people there," he said of the eight-hour general industry safety course, which also includes a construction module.

Groesbeck said the Utah Safety Council grant will be continued, probably at its current annual $18,000 budget. But first, Groesbeck wants to research how to create more interest about the courses.

"The frequency and severity of workplace injuries is higher among Hispanics," he said. "That's the concern. How we can reach out and provide safety training?"

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration reports that nationally, workplace fatalities among Hispanics have risen nearly 35 percent over the last decade, especially in construction. Meanwhile, overall workplace fatalities had dropped by 20 percent.

However, Groesbeck said in two years, "no more than 200" people have attended the Utah Safety Council's Spanish language program.

Louis M. Silva, OSHA authorized instructor for the Safety Council course, said it's designed to "demystify the concept of safety and health, to demystify OSHA."

He said it's possible the course should be promoted differently. Even though the course is free, it may be difficult for small employers to lose a day of labor, or for workers with two or three jobs to find time to attend a course, he said.

"Any effort we can make in order to help the workers understand occupational safety, it should be continued," he said.