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Worker Perspectives on COVID-19 Risks: A Qualitative Study of Latino Construction Workers in Oakland, California
- Source :
- International journal of environmental research and public health, vol 19, iss 16, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health; Volume 19; Issue 16; Pages: 9822
- Publication Year :
- 2022
- Publisher :
- MDPI AG, 2022.
-
Abstract
- Latino construction workers in the U.S. have faced a disproportionate risk for COVID-19 infection in the workplace. Prior studies have focused on quantifying workplace risk for COVID-19 infection; few have captured workers’ experiences and perspectives. This study describes COVID-19-related workplace risks from the perspectives of Latino construction workers. We conducted a qualitative study using semi-structured phone interviews with Latino construction workers from the Fruitvale District of Oakland, California. Twenty individuals were interviewed from December 2020 to March 2021. Nearly all participants (19/20) were Spanish-speaking men; mean age 42.6 years. The majority were low-income and over one-third did not have health insurance. Participants worked in varied construction-related jobs ranging from demolition to office work; additionally, four were day laborers, and three belonged to a labor union. We identified four major themes with public health policy and workplace safety implications: (1) Major concern about the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection for family health and economic wellbeing; (2) Clarity about mask use and social distancing but not disclosure; (3) Variability in access to additional resources provided by employers; and (4) Uncertainty around structural support for SARS-CoV-2 quarantine/isolation. Our findings provide further evidence from workers’ own perspectives of the major gaps experienced during the pandemic in workplace protections and resources.
- Subjects :
- Adult
Male
SARS-CoV-2
Prevention
Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis
Construction Industry
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
COVID-19
Hispanic or Latino
Toxicology
California
construction workers
Good Health and Well Being
Latino health
Risk Factors
Clinical Research
occupational health
Humans
Patient Safety
essential workers
immigrant health
Workplace
Pandemics
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 16604601
- Volume :
- 19
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....832ca959ff0e93bef8ee6a53a1dc78f7
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19169822