Hispanics shun safety class

Groesbeck said the research, to be contracted out to a private company, will involve focus groups and statistically relevant surveys of employers and employees.

Groesbeck said he wants to understand issues for which there's anecdotal evidence, but nothing concrete, such as mobility, and how many jobs people are working.

His office has submitted a request for proposal to conduct the survey. Groesbeck hoped it would be complete by the end of September.

The study could also be of use to the Rocky Mountain Center, an OSHA Training Institute Education Center, said Connie Crandall, continuing education program director.

Over the past two years, the OSHA Training Institute Education Center has only attracted about five or six bilingual individuals to its general industry and construction courses and the prerequisite, both free under the grant, she said. The courses would normally cost $575 each.

She said that "absolutely none" of those who received the bilingual grant have requested any cards that are issued to students after they've completed a safety course.

"We've certainly marketed and we've certainly tried," Crandall said. "The Labor Commission foots the whole bill. I'm just really shocked. . . . People are going through the training and not doing anything with it."

But there have been some success stories. Melva Sine, president and CEO of the Utah Restaurant Association, said her association hasn't had trouble recruiting for its Spanish safety training that started with the help of a Labor Commission grant in June.

She said about 17 percent of the state's restaurant industry is Hispanic. The association had already offered course materials in Spanish but discovered low literacy rates among immigrant workers.

So far about 30 people have been trained to take the information back to their employees, she said, and the association is also starting to conduct training at the work place as well.

"We're still working with corporations to train all their people as well as training owners on how important and effective it can be," she said.

Parenti said if the Labor Commission survey is completed by the end of September, the courses should be able to continue by November at the latest. The courses are free, but if the grant were discontinued they might be continued at a cost of $99 to $125 per person, he said.

Theresa Guido, international administrative and project manager, for Stampin' Up, said about 15 distribution center Spanish employees attended a previous Utah Safety Council course.

She said it was an added supplement to a safety program that all employees attend.

"We have people who are bilingual. Sometimes to hear it in their own language . . . it's more personal," she said. "I think it made them feel like the company really did want them to . . . be able to ask questions, to be able to give us input on their jobs."

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E-mail: dbulkeley@desnews.com