Work experiences of Latino building cleaners: An exploratory study

"On the books" yet "off the record"-occupational injury and migrant women: scoping review findings from OECD countries, with implications for New Zealand

Introduction

Little appears to be known regarding the work-related injury (WRI) experiences of migrants (those born in a country other than their identified host country) and specifically, women migrants.

Methods

As part of a wider PhD project investigating the WRI experiences of New Zealand (NZ) migrants, a review of NZ mainstream media coverage of migrants WRIs was undertaken, which identified no representations of migrant women's WRI experiences. In turn, a scoping review was undertaken to identify peer-reviewed publications reporting empirical findings about WRI experiences and outcomes for migrants in Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) member countries, including NZ. This paper aims to identify and describe findings for migrant women specifically. From 2,243 potential publications, 383 proceeded to full text review; ultimately 67 were retained. These 67 publications were reviewed to identify findings specifically for occupationally injured migrant women; 22 such publications (from 21 studies) were found. This paper reports: the characteristics of identified studies; characteristics of migrant women within; frameworks and theories used, and knowledge (and gaps) related to occupationally injured migrant women.

Results

Publications came from only four OECD countries, the United States, Canada, Australia, and Spain. A range of study designs, and topic areas (working conditions, legal rights, identities, the role of gatekeepers, and precarity), were identified; however, only three studies reported findings for longer-term experiences and outcomes of WRIs. Nine publications considered theoretical models underpinning research, including theories about precarious work, stigmatization, and citizenship. However, there was a paucity of analyses of the WRI experience throughout the life-course, highlighting a gap in understanding of how these experiences are "lived" over the long term by occupationally injured migrant women.

Discussion

Scoping review findings were synthesized using a provisional "matryoshka framing narrative" model, to be refined through forthcoming qualitative interviews with occupationally injured NZ migrant women. This model highlights the multitude of influences in WRI experiences, potentially specific to migrant women, suggesting the consequences of WRIs may be uneven, with migrant women experiencing different, and potentially, greater disparities in outcomes. These findings provide an impetus to investigate knowledge gaps and urgently address potential disparities in WRI outcomes for migrant women specifically.

Unauthorized Mexican-Born Immigrants, Occupational Injuries, and the use of Medical Services in the United States

This article examines how unauthorized immigrant status is associated with the risk of suffering a work-related accident or illness and with the use of medical services after experiencing an injury among Mexican immigrants in the United States. Using individual-level data on 81,004 Mexican immigrants who previously worked in the United States and were interviewed when they returned to Mexico in the Survey of Migration in the Northern Border of Mexico from 2010 to 2018, we estimate a series of probit models and nonlinear decompositions to analyze legal status differences in the incidence of occupational injuries among immigrant workers. The results show that among Mexican immigrants in the United States unauthorized status was associated with a greater probability of experiencing an occupational injury. The higher injury rate among unauthorized immigrants was partly driven by the fact that they worked more hours per day, more days per week, and were employed in riskier occupations than authorized immigrants. If unauthorized immigrants were older and had higher levels of English-language ability, the injury gap would have been even larger. Unauthorized status was also associated with a lower likelihood of using medical services after suffering an occupational injury because unauthorized workers had less access to medical care. The findings show that the right to legal work has important implications for the health of immigrants by setting a higher risk level for injury on the job and limiting access to health care following such an injury.

The relationship between perceived health and psychosocial risk in women in the service sector (cleaning)

BACKGROUND

Cleaning is considered a female-dominant occupation. Women cleaning workers present a high risk of suffering impaired health probably as a result of performing low-skilled tasks. However, to date, no studies have been found that examine the health status of female cleaning workers in Spain.

OBJECTIVES

The objectives were to 1) determine the level of perceived health in a sample of female cleaning workers, 2) evaluate the main psychosocial risks they face, 3) explore the relationship between perceived health and psychosocial risk factors, and 4) compare the perceived health of those women who present some psychosocial risk factor and those who do not.

METHODS

This is a multi-centered cross-sectional study carried out in the service sector of a Spanish company. The final sample was composed of 455 female cleaning workers. Sociodemographic variables, perceived health status and psychosocial risk factors were assessed.

RESULTS

Women presented a high perception of health status. The main psychosocial risk was lack of acknowledgement by their superiors, which affected 25.2% (n = 111) of the sample. Moderate negative correlations (r=-.222 to -.442; p <  .01) were identified between perceived health and evident psychosocial risks. Those women who presented some psychosocial risk (n = 174; 38.3%) had a worse state of perceived health in all variables studied.

CONCLUSION

Presence of psychosocial risk had a relationship with a worse health perception. This article highlights the need to orient preventive actions in the psychosocial field. The COVID-19 pandemic represents a new situation to renew the health promotion between cleaning workers.

The job demand-control-support model and work-related musculoskeletal complaints in daytime and nighttime janitors: The mediating effect of burnout

Janitors' jobs require repetitive work with low control (skill discretion, decision authority) and social support. Previous studies have found this constellation of work conditions leads to high stress levels. This study investigated the relationships among job demand-control-support, burnout, and musculoskeletal symptoms for commercial janitors in Washington State. Structural equation modeling was performed using data from 208 participants with analyses comparing models of daytime and nighttime janitors. Burnout fully mediated the relationship between job demands and musculoskeletal complaints among daytime janitors. Among nighttime janitors, burnout mediated between job demands, job control, and social support, and musculoskeletal complaints. The nighttime janitors' model was more fully supported compared to the daytime model. This study is one of a small number that examine and bring attention to the importance of janitors' burnout. Recommendations to improve the psychosocial work environment toward mitigating burnout and reducing musculoskeletal complaints are provided.

Self-reported exposure to hazards and mitigation strategies among oil and gas extraction workers in three U.S. states

Numerous health and safety hazards exist at U.S. onshore oil and gas extraction worksites. Higher fatal injury rates have been reported among drilling and servicing companies, which are more likely to employ workers in construction and extraction occupations, compared to operators that employ more workers in management and office and administrative support roles. However, there is little information describing the extent to which workers encounter these hazards, are provided hazard mitigation strategies by their employers, or use personal protective equipment (PPE). A cross-sectional survey of 472 U.S. oil and gas extraction workers was conducted to identify and characterize factors related to on-the-job fatalities, injuries, and illnesses and determine workers' health and safety concerns. Workers were employed by servicing companies (271/472, 57.4%), drilling contractors (106/472, 22.5%), and operators (95/472, 20.1%). The likelihood of contact with hazardous substances varied by substance and company type. Drilling and servicing employees had significantly higher odds of self-reported contact with pipe dope (ORdrilling = 10.07, 95% CI: 1.74-63.64; ORservicing = 5.95, 95% CI: 2.18-18.34), diesel exhaust (ORdrilling = 2.28, 95% CI: 1.15-5.05; ORservicing = 4.93, 95% CI: 2.73-10.32), and drilling mud (ORdrilling = 24.36, 95% CI: 4.45-144.69; ORservicing = 3.48, 95% CI: 1.24-12.20), compared to operators. Safety policies, programs, and trainings were commonly reported by workers, although substance-specific training (e.g., respirable crystalline silica hazards) was less common. Differences in self-reported employer PPE requirements and worker use of PPE when needed or required for safety highlight a need for novel strategies to improve the use of PPE. Overall, this study highlights differences in work conditions by company type and uncovers gaps in employer administrative controls and PPE use.

Risk factors and impacts of slips, trips, and falls in janitorial populations: A literature review

The objective of this paper is to analyze the existing literature to determine the scope and risk factors of slips, trips, and falls (STFs) within the janitorial population in order to make evidence-based recommendations to prevent these incidents in the future. Selected for review were published peer-reviewed articles, conference proceedings, and gray literature relating to STFs among janitors and cleaners. Individuals employed as janitors and cleaners, specifically those that were older than 45-years of age and/or female, represented the highest risk populations for STFs. These STFs result in injuries, such as sprains, strains, dislocations, and tears. Among janitors and cleaners, 30% of nonfatal incidents are attributed to STFs, resulting in a median of 11 days away from work. Both non-observable/human factors and observable/organizational factors contribute to STFs within this population and must be addressed to protect public health. Preventive interventions focused on comprehensive approaches that target observable and non-observable factors are needed to reduce STFs within the custodial population. More research is needed on STFs in the janitorial population to identify successful preventive STF interventions. Addressing the issue of STFs within this job classification will improve the overall health and well-being of janitors as well as reduce the indirect and direct economic burden placed on the employer organization.

Work-related injury burden, workers' compensation claim filing, and barriers: Results from a statewide survey of janitors

BACKGROUND

Janitors are a low-wage, ethnically and linguistically diverse, hard-to-reach population of workers with a high burden of occupational injury and illness.

METHODS

Data from an extensive multimodal (mail, phone, web) survey of janitors in Washington State were analyzed to characterize their working conditions and occupational health experiences. The survey included questions on demographics, work organization and tasks, health and safety topics, and discrimination and harassment. The survey was administered in eight languages.

RESULTS

There were 620 complete interviews. The majority completed the survey by mail (62.6%), and in English (85.8%). More than half of responding janitors were female (56.9%), and the mean age was 45 years. Twenty percent reported having a (health-care-provider diagnosed) work-related injury or illness (WRII) in the past twelve months. Women and janitors who were Latino had significantly higher relative risk of WRII. Increased risk was also associated with several work organization factors that may indicate poor working conditions, insufficient sleep, and possible depression. Half of injured janitors did not file workers' compensation (WC) claims.

CONCLUSIONS

Janitors reported a high percentage of WRII, which exceeded previously published estimates from Washington State. Women and Latino janitors had significantly increased risk of WRII, and janitors' working conditions may influence the unequal distribution of risk. WRII surveillance via WC or medical care usage in janitors and other low-wage occupations may reflect substantial underreporting. Characterizing the nature of janitors' work experience can help identify avenues for prevention, intervention, and policy changes to protect the health and safety of janitors.

Heart Attacks, Bloody Noses, and Other "Emotional Problems": Cultural and Conceptual Issues With the Spanish Translation of Self-Report Emotional Health Items

This article examines how respondents understood items in the Spanish versions of the Short-Form 36 (SF-36v2). Cognitive interviews of the SF-36 were conducted in 2 phases with 46 Spanish speakers living in the United States. Roughly one-third (17/46) of respondents had difficulty understanding the Role Emotional items upon their initial reading, and almost half (21/46) provided examples that were inconsistent with the intended meaning of the items. The findings of this study underscore the importance of conducting cognitive testing to ensure conceptual equivalence of any instrument regardless of how well validated it appears to be.

Migration of physicians and keys to success

There are currently nearly 1 billion migrants, of whom 259 million are international migrants, according to the World Health Organization. In the Americas, Venezuela has the highest migratory flow in the region in recent history. By September 2019, more than 4,300,000 people of all social classes had left the country. They included more than 24,000 doctors, who were fleeing the serious political, economic, and social crises affecting that nation. Others in the exodus are a large number of university faculty. The author's personal experience as a migrant doctor is presented, and job alternatives beyond medical practice/clinical medicine are described. The exodus of highly qualified personnel is not a new phenomenon but one that negatively affects the region or country of origin, whereas the receiving place benefits from the professionals who manage to join the workforce in their field of training. This, of course, is dependent on their complying with requirements to obtain legal residency and respective licensures, in addition to finding existing alternatives according to their expertise. To achieve this objective, they require a network of relatives, colleagues, and friends who can provide guidance on the steps to be followed; being fluent in the language of the new residence; and obtaining the necessary certifications to practice the profession either by taking the legally required examinations or by obtaining another degree from a university in the country.