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OBJECTIVE:: To assess medical costs of occupational injuries and sources of payment among Hispanic and non-Hispanic construction workers. METHODS:: More than 7000 construction workers, including 1833 Hispanic workers were examined using the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, 1996 to 2002. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted using SUDAAN. RESULTS:: Annually, work-related injuries in construction cost $1.36 billion (2002 dollars), with 46% paid by workers' compensation. Compared with non-Hispanic workers, Hispanic workers were 53% more likely to have medical conditions resulting from work-related injuries, but 48% less likely to receive payment for medical costs from workers' compensation (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS:: This study suggests an urgent need to reform the current workers' compensation system to reduce the burden shifted to injured workers and society. Such reforms should include easier access and more assistance for Hispanic and other immigrant workers. Language: en

Many cohorts of industrial workers at increased risk of occupationally induced bladder cancer are still in the preclinical disease stage. A large proportion of workers in these populations have been exposed to aromatic amines, but have not yet experienced the average latent period for bladder cancer. A need exists for definition of what constitutes optimal management for asymptomatic workers in these cohorts. Promising advances in the epidemiology, pathology, detection, and treatment of bladder cancer pressure for a reassessment of current practices and the application of the most current scientific knowledge. Some of these apparent advances, however, have not yet been rigorously evaluated. The time has come to evaluate these advances so that their application can occur while high risk cohorts are still amenable to and likely to benefit from intervention. This commentary calls for such an evaluation leading to a comprehensive approach to managing cohorts at high risk of bladder cancer.