SC has highest rate of Hispanic on-the-job deaths
By Nita Birmingham , Katy Stech
Inexperience can be deadly.
Local immigration experts are attributing South Carolina's high rate of Hispanic deaths on the job — which is far higher than any other state in the country — to the newness of its Mexican immigrant population.
A government study released Thursday shows that an average of 23 Hispanic workers out of 100,000 died during work-related activities in 2006, the most recent year available. Most of those deaths happened after accidental falls at construction sites, according to the report.
South Carolina's rate is far higher than in other states. Oklahoma, which ranked second-highest, recorded a rate of 10.3 deaths per 100,000 Hispanic workers.
Nationally, researchers found an annual rate of 5 deaths per 100,000 Hispanic workers during 2006. The rate for non-Hispanic white workers was 4. For black workers, it was 3.7.
Elaine Lacy, a history professor at the University of South Carolina-Aiken and former director of research for the school's Consortium for Latino Immigration Studies, attributed the high rate to the state's relatively new population of Hispanic workers.
In 2007, Lacy and other USC researchers found that while the average length of time Latinos have been in the United States is 7.9 years, their average stay in South Carolina has been only 4.8 years.
Hispanic workers' growing presence in the workplace has likely led to a communications and training disconnect, making workplace conditions more treacherous than in other states, Lacy said.
"There's a lot we have to learn when we move somewhere new," she said. "Imagine moving to a different country and having to learn (different workplace rules), with everything in a different language."
States with a longer history of immigration likely have a better, safer workplace system in place, Lacy said. In California, for example, Hispanic workers who work alongside more experienced Spanish-speaking workers might find it easier to learn how to operate a piece of machinery or the safest way to climb a ladder, Lacy said.
Also, Hispanic workers who are migrating to South Carolina are coming mainly from southeastern Mexico, a part of the country where, traditionally, fewer residents have crossed the U.S. border for work, Lacy said. Since the concept of immigration is newer there, that might also lead to a disconnect.
"If you're coming from an area of Mexico that doesn't have a long history of immigration, you're not going to have a lot of information about working or living in the U.S.," Lacy said.
Employers, too, might have had a hard time training an increasingly Spanish-speaking work force.
When state regulators saw a high rate of Hispanic worker deaths in 2003, they decided to create a Spanish-language training program.
State officials say the program has led to a decrease in Hispanic worker deaths, but the government study doesn't reflect that decline, since it only takes into account deaths that occurred before the program started.
"We don't get credit for what we're doing to address Hispanic deaths and where they're occurring, and that's not fair," said state OSHA Communications and Governmental Affairs Director Jim Knight.
South Carolina was the only state in the country to form a Hispanic Worker Safety Task Force in 2004, Knight said.
The state saw Hispanic worker deaths peak in 2003 at 18, but only 10 were under the state OSHA jurisdiction, Knight said. State OSHA does not investigate worker deaths resulting from traffic fatalities, heart attacks or homicides.
"We put together a task force of representatives from business, from the Hispanic community, we brainstormed some ideas about how we could turn this trend around. We said the first need was to make available to employers training for workers in Spanish, their native language," Knight said.
Most on-the-job accidents occur in the first year of employment because that's when a worker has the least experience, Knight said. In addition to inexperience, there's a tremendous problem communicating safety information, he said.
The task force focused on the areas where most deaths occurred, construction and landscaping, and in 2005 began presenting training programs in Spanish around the state for workers in those two industries, Knight said.
The state Department of Licensing, Labor and Regulation developed a web page of resources for employers to use in training workers.
Reach Katy Stech at 937-5549 or kstech@postandcourier.com. Reach Nita Birmingham at 937-5433 or nbirmingham@postandcourier.com. The Associated Press contributed to th
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volsfan (anonymous) says...
"Imagine moving to a different country and having to learn (different workplace rules), with everything in a different language."
Just about every job requires "on the job training". Here's an idea... Learn the language so you can understand the training and rules.
June 6, 2008 at 6:35 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
moonpie (anonymous) says...
I know people that sell safety products. He was doing training on a special product, he uttered a paragrah to a translator and then he uttered 3 words to the illegals? The guy just looked at him like, I said more than 3 words!
No wonder they get killed. Total disregard for our laws,rules and anything American!
Go home gringos!
June 6, 2008 at 6:44 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
suec (anonymous) says...
moonpie FYI a gringo is a white person.
Volsfan, learning a new language is hard for an adult. I get so sick of the "Speak English" tirade. Apparently some people think that learning a new language is as easy as buying a new pair of shoes.
Most of these laborers are not very educated to start with. They work from sun up to sundown. When are tey supposed to go to school? MOst are afraid to sign up for anything.
June 6, 2008 at 7:38 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
captivated (anonymous) says...
Mouth of the South, where in the article is there a mention of "illegals"? There are plenty of legal hispanic workers in the states and the gist of the argument is that they would be less likely to have workplace accidents if they learned english or work along with someone who speaks spanish.
June 6, 2008 at 8:02 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
lowcountrylover (anonymous) says...
ENGLISH IS THE LANGUAGE HERE. LEARN IT OR LEAVE
June 6, 2008 at 8:09 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Hec78 (anonymous) says...
Mouth of the south AND EVERYBODY.
WE ARE THE SAME NOBODY HAS supernatural power. this people a able to do anything like anybody else. learning a new language is hard for an adult. Apparently some people think that learning a new language is as easy as buying a new pair of shoes.
!Have any of you try to learn a new language!
The only thing that shows when you and others write about this people (Hispanic Workers) is, the type of person you are, and maybe You ARE NOT like that, but this whole thing is taking you DO NOT LET THIS Continue Growing in your HEART.
GOD LOVES US ALL. AND HE Speak all kind of language and He speak your too. go to HIM and talk to HIM.
Have a GOOD DAY AND DO NOT LET ANYTHING Ruins it! go to your jobs do it the best you can when you come back home, give yourself to your family and you will see, time will take care of the thing you CAN NOT. TAKE IT EASY, Amigo. Sinceramente, Rev. Hec78
June 6, 2008 at 9:26 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mershadonn (anonymous) says...
do not come here to stay or work unless you
get Legal TODAY
dosnt matter where you are from if you are going to work here
get your work Visa , cause if I came to your country I would have to .
ask Western Union how much they transfered out of the county last year
not talking just Latinos , either .
why not ask RYLAND HOMES how many they had ..
I met people from Portugal, Russia and other places
in my community when Ryland was building it
June 6, 2008 at 9:57 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Hec78 (anonymous) says...
I'm Glad to see you guys saying yours opinion and at the same time respecting the others as best you all can.
God can do great thing in are lives out of every situation.
Have a Good day.
Sinceramente, Rev. Hec78
June 6, 2008 at 11:50 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ptmama73 (anonymous) says...
Elisabetta says (translated) "For all the Hispanics, I like much his culture, and people as Mouth of the South does not represent the opinions of all. You have a rich culture but of ours, and all the Americans are not as idiot as Mouth of the South. Our country can learn much of its culture, its dances, and their delicious food. Eviva Mexico!" (I obtained this translation from Yahoo! Babel Fish)
June 6, 2008 at 12:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
beerjoy (anonymous) says...
I can see the relationship between high rates of Hispanic on-the-job deaths and not speaking English. I would certainly agree that jobs such as construction or landscaping should communicate to their employees, but do not agree with having to translate for them.
I too encourage all immigrants to learn English, not for anyone's sake but yours:(I will now translate that in Spanish so they understand me).
Me gustarÃ-a invitar a todos los Hispanos que no saben hablar el Engles, que lo aprendan. No nada mas a hablar, pero tambien a escribir y leerlo. Este articulo menciona que los Hispanos mueren mas en el tabajo que en ningun otro tipo de gente. Si ono habla Engles bien, su empleador puede comunicarse con usted major. Tambien, el hablar Engles significa que uno quiere ser parte de esta nacion, y lo mismo otorgara mas oportunidad the sobresalir para cada individuo.
Sorry folks, I figure I can try and reach out. You know, this is in English and we are trying to communicate:(there goes the vicious cycle of translating to Spanish. Darn it!)
June 6, 2008 at 1:11 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
suec (anonymous) says...
We need to get rid of the thugs that rob, beat, rape people and kill. To me, that should be our #1 priority.
Why don't some of you focus your hatred and energy towards getting rid of those criminals?
June 6, 2008 at 1:25 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
captivated (anonymous) says...
Rev.Hec78, I hope your church is teaching english to your parishioners. It would be a great idea to improve their communications skills and make it safer for them at work.
June 6, 2008 at 1:53 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
greyrider (anonymous) says...
elisabetta (and all who care about the hispanics), I don't think there's any question that the "illegal" issue is a major factor. Employers who pay illegal immigrants under the table have nothing to link them to the workers when they are injured or killed. When someone shows up and says "This man was injured while working for you", the obvious response is "I don't know him, he's not on my payroll" and he's not. I doubt the safety standards surrounding illegal workers even resemble those surrounding legal workers. In the long run, those in the country illegally will BENEFIT from a crackdown on illegal immigration.
June 6, 2008 at 2:17 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Pirate (anonymous) says...
In 1843 the Deutsche Zeitung was published in Charleston, literally German Daily Newspaper. It quickly changed into a commercial printing company because all the German immigrants learned English and began reading the local daily. BTW- the printing company is still in business in Charleston.
Also BTW, my ethnic background is English, Swedish & German, so you might say I'm white. But I agree with Spike Lee. If this country were all white, it would be bland, bland, bland.
I don't think there's a solution to this problem that even a majority will support, much less everyone.
June 6, 2008 at 4:27 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
moonpie (anonymous) says...
LEGAL citizens participating in "multiculturalism" is good.
ELISABETTA just because we want people here legally and obeying our laws in place doesn't make us racist. This is the arguments idiots use because its the easiest. If you think the "let them be" attitude is the way to go then why don't we just throw out the rule of law. You or I couldn't just walk into their countries and do the same. They actually enforce their immigration laws.
June 7, 2008 at 9:02 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
moonpie (anonymous) says...
"Gringo (feminine, gringa) is a term in the Spanish and Portuguese languages used in some countries of Latin America to refer to foreigners from different cultures."
DOESN'T JUST REFER TO WHITES, MORONS. GO HOME GRINGOS!
June 7, 2008 at 9:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
eyfigueroa (anonymous) says...
"It's the truth. I've never met an Hispanic with valuable skills, unless you consider the ability to cut grass a valuable skill."
I see you've expanded your ignorance beyond the biblical.
Hispanics come in all colors and hues from many different nations. They are white with Blond hair and blue eyes (as in my father and his sisters) and cafe au lait complexions like me or even darker pecan hues as in my daughter.
You have been in contact with Hispanics; physicians, attorneys, clerks, teachers and yes those who cut grass.
You may not have recognized them by name for some may have married names or their married mothers were Hispanic but yes, you've come into contact with a great deal of Hispanics.
So the next time you go to the doctor and that Black or White nurse takes your vitals or that olive complexioned physician performs surgery on you or your loved one, please be sure to ask them if they are Hispanic. Per your statement they may very well be Latino and without any valuable skills.
You may not read this and probably won't respond. You never do when I confront you of the truth of your ignorance.
June 15, 2008 at 11:16 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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