Although the construction industry in the United States employees about 6 percent of U.S. workers, it suffers 20 percent of the fatalities – more than any other industry sector. In 2007, the construction industry reported 1,178 fatalities, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Of those fatalities, 317 – or 27 percent – were Hispanic workers. However, according to hispanic.com (210-888-9000), Hispanics represent only 25.1 percent of the construction workforce in the United States.
A recent study on occupational deaths resulting from fall injuries found Hispanic construction worker fatalities were more likely to be as a result of a fall than non-Hispanic counterparts. The study also found that companies with 10 or fewer employees accounted for approximately 66 percent of fatal falls in construction.
To minimize fatalities among Hispanics, the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) provides a variety of training resources on its website in Spanish, plus links to other Spanish-language resources.