Occupational Health Disparities

Racial and ethnic minority groups in the workforce are prone to higher rates of work-related diseases, injuries, and psychological distress than non-minorities. The severity and types of hazards minorities face are also very different because they may work in more physically demanding, labor-intensive jobs--jobs that often do not provide full benefits or enough income to allow access to proper healthcare. Fortunately, the burgeoning field of occupational health psychology (OHP), with its focus on worker wellbeing, is ideally positioned to address these disparities and improve conditions for minority workers. To fully understand the needs of racial and ethnic minorities, however, OHP requires a more multicultural perspective. This book thus gathers experts in OHP and multicultural psychology to establish an evidence-based framework that will promote advancements in policy, research, and interventions, all of which are needed to reduce occupational health disparities (OHDs). Chapters review the disparities that Latinos, African Americans, and Asian Americans face in variety of industries, including agriculture, transportation, construction, nursing, and information technology. They also explore a wide array of issues that impact OHDs, such as socioeconomic status; education; discriminatory and hostile work environments; lack of effective safety training; language proficiency; and other cultural, community, and organizational factors.