SC has highest rate of Hispanic on-the-job deathsThe Post and Courier
Friday, June 6, 2008
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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Comments
This article has 31 comment(s)
Posted by The_Mouth_of_the_South on June 6, 2008 at 6:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Send them all packing. We don't need these illegals here. They are in the process of destroying our national sovereignty. When my ancestors came here, they learned English immediately and became loyal Americans. These criminals come here and expect everybody to learn Spanish and have NO loyalty to America. We need to have the National Guard at the border with orders to shoot to kill when these invaders try to cross the border. Send some home in body bags and it will eliminate 100% of the Hispanic problem.
I'm not against immigration, what I'm against are these people flagrantly breaking the law and invading our country.
I also believe that anybody who has the audacity to fly a foreign flag on our soil needs to be treated like the Rosenbergs were treated in the 50's for treason.
Posted by volsfan on June 6, 2008 at 6:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"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.
Posted by moonpie on June 6, 2008 at 6:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
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!
Posted by suec on June 6, 2008 at 7:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
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.
Posted by captivated on June 6, 2008 at 8:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
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.
Posted by lowcountrylover on June 6, 2008 at 8:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
ENGLISH IS THE LANGUAGE HERE. LEARN IT OR LEAVE
Posted by Jane on June 6, 2008 at 8:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Actually captivated we don't issue work visas for construction. This is what happens when you have out of control immigration whether it is legal or illegal. You can't assimilate millions of people. People who can't speak English should not be allowed to work in these dangerous fields. It is for their protection as well as those around them.
We all understand that it is difficult to learn another language as an adult. Again, that is another valid argument for cracking down on illegal immigration and reigning in legal immigration as well, not a valid argument for illegal immigration!! It's all about....can we assimilate people that are coming here? Is it in manageable numbers?? Obviously not if we are having to learn their language instead of the other way around!
Posted by Hec78 on June 6, 2008 at 9:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
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
Posted by mershadonn on June 6, 2008 at 9:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
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
Posted by Jane on June 6, 2008 at 9:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Elisabetta, no one is saying people shouldn't learn another language! We are saying people should follow the law to come here! You continue to call people names. Simply because you can speak many languages doesn't mean you have class now does it? I was not aware that being multi-lingual gave a person the license to insult others.
Hec78 we KNOW it is hard to learn a second language as an adult!! Once again, that is why a country has to limit the number of people they allow in so they can help the new immigrants learn the language of their new country and assimiltate and guess what?? By assimilating they will improve their economic lot in life!!
What I get from folks that get on here and post in Spanish is we should continue to allow illegal immigration because the majority of illegals come from latin countries. Tell me something, would you feel that way if the majority of illegals were blond blue eyed Germans and they expected everything to be printed in German? Would Diane Salazar be such an "immigrant activists" then?
Elisabetta, I will say it again (but you don't care) we do NOT issue work visas for construction. If someone working in construction can't speak English then he is obviously not a citizen and since we don't issue work visas in construction...how is this person legal? Notice, I did NOT point out any ethnicity. I said 'can't speak English'. Again, it is dangerous for that person to be working in construction if they can't understand the language!! It is for their safety more than anything.
Posted by Jane on June 6, 2008 at 10:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
PS. Elisabetta, what is your opinion of illegals that come here, live for years and can only speak their native tongue after years of living here? Are they ignorant too for "refusing to learn a second language"? Just curious. Your nasty name calling seems to be only directed at us English speaking folks. Very interesting.....
Posted by Jane on June 6, 2008 at 10:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Just because you disagree with Mouth is no reason to get on here and call him names.
Again, it is next to impossible to assimilate millions of people. That is why out of control legal/illegal immigration is detrimental to a country.
You can tell us to learn a second language until the cows come home and that does not change the fact that no one has a right to sneak into this country. Wehave a right to pick and choose who we allow into our home/country and no one should call people names for that.
You are supposed to be able to speak English to become a US citizen. I do know Gore and Clinton rushed through about a million folks in 1996 to become citizens so they could vote in the upcoming presidential election. Alot of those folks could not speak English. That is wrong. That should be the number one qualification for citizenship!
I do believe one of the reasons Europe has had so many wars over the centuries is because people can't speak the same language (of course there are tons of other reasons as well), but a common language is essential for a nation to survive and remain unified.
It is tiresome for we Americans to have to constantly have folks such as yourself Elizabetta calling us names (even if it is just for mouth). Calling us names for what? Because we want to pick and choose who we allow into this country.
Would you leave your front door open 24/7? Would it be ok for someone in a poorer neighborhood to break into your house and stay? Afterall, they are only "wanting a better life".
Posted by Hec78 on June 6, 2008 at 11:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
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
Posted by ptmama73 on June 6, 2008 at 12:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
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)
Posted by The_Mouth_of_the_South on June 6, 2008 at 12:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Elisabetta:
Just for your information, I speak fluent English, German and French. I've also dabbled with learning Polish, but didn't have many opportunities to use it.
I would never dream of traveling or moving to a country without learning the language and adopting their culture. As for these illegals, if their culture was worthwhile, they wouldn't be here in the first place. There culture is morally bankrupt and devoid of any redeeming qualities. I encourage all LEGAL immigrants to learn the language and become part of our great American culture so they can enjoy the blessing of being Americans. We are NOT Hispanic-Americans, German-Americans or Polish-Americans, we are AMERICANS, period. You need to get over your anti-American views and attitudes and become REAL Americans!!!
Multi-culturalism is a poison that will destroy us like it has the Canadians and all other countries that weren't homogonous.
Posted by beerjoy on June 6, 2008 at 1:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
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 gustarÃa 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!)
Posted by suec on June 6, 2008 at 1:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
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?
Posted by wpc3iop on June 6, 2008 at 1:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What a shame...
Posted by captivated on June 6, 2008 at 1:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
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.
Posted by Jane on June 6, 2008 at 2:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yo suec...check out www.outragedpatriots.com and check out some of the robbers, rapists, etc...
Multiculturalism isn't about having different nationalities in your bloodstream elisabetta, it is about different cultures living in one country where folks refuse to assimilate and live under one language. That is multiculturalism. It is not good for the survival of a nation.
Posted by greyrider on June 6, 2008 at 2:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
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.
Posted by The_Mouth_of_the_South on June 6, 2008 at 4:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
As I said before, acceptance of multi-culturalism is suicide for any nation. It's unpatriotic and treason at it's extreme.
Assimilate or leave!!!
Posted by Pirate on June 6, 2008 at 4:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
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.
Posted by The_Mouth_of_the_South on June 7, 2008 at 8:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Einstein was a legal immigrant and brought valuable skills with him. Almost all Hispanics are illegal and don't posses any valuable skills such as engineering, technical or medical.
All they do is take entry level jobs away from our children and bleed our system dry by taking medicaid and welfare and commit identity fraud.
Gee, sounds like a bunch of people we want to welcome to our country. . .
Posted by The_Mouth_of_the_South on June 7, 2008 at 9:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Calling An Illegal Alien an "Undocumented Worker" is Like Calling a Crack Dealer an "Unlicensed Pharmacist"
Posted by moonpie on June 7, 2008 at 9:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
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.
Posted by moonpie on June 7, 2008 at 9:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"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!
Posted by The_Mouth_of_the_South on June 8, 2008 at 8:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
elisabetta:
It's the truth. I've never met an Hispanic with valuable skills, unless you consider the ability to cut grass a valuable skill.
If you look at the other countries immigration policies (Mexico would be a prime example), they won't let you in unless you prove you have a valuable technical skill and bring tens of thousands of dollars with you.
In light of the recent report that 25% of teens nation wide are unemployed because of the lack of entry level jobs (which these Hispanics are taking by the millions) your views on immigration are simply foolish.
Posted by The_Mouth_of_the_South on June 8, 2008 at 8:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
elisabetta:
Just for the record, telling the truth isn't racist. It seems that every time anybody disagrees with your misguided views, they are racist. Why is that???
Posted by The_Mouth_of_the_South on June 8, 2008 at 12:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The ones coming here illegally don't possess valuable skills and don't belong here. The fact that they are here is no different than when a burglar breaks into your house. This makes them criminals.
If their culture had any redeeming qualities then there wouldn't be millions of them poluting our country. There presence here is proof that their culture is morally and ethically bankrupt. Their culture breeds corrupt politicians, a poor work ethic and a disregard for the rule of law. We don't need people like that here in America.
Posted by eyfigueroa on June 15, 2008 at 11:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"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.