Lourdes Carrillo

Work-family conflict: experiences and health implications among immigrant Latinos.

Work-family conflict research has focused almost exclusively on professional, White adults. The goal of this article was to expand the understanding of culture and industry in shaping experiences and consequences of work-family conflict. Using in-depth interview data (n = 26) and structured survey data (n = 200) from immigrant Latinos employed in the poultry processing industry, the authors evaluated predictions drawn from emerging models emphasizing the influence of cultural characteristics such as collectivism and gender ideology on work-family conflict. Results indicated that immigrant Latinos in poultry processing experienced infrequent work-to-family conflict; both the level and the antecedents of work-to-family conflict differed by gender, with physical demands contributing to greater conflict for women but not men. In addition, there was little evidence that work-family conflict was associated with health in this population. These results demonstrate how traditional models of work-family conflict need to be modified to reflect the needs and circumstances of diverse workers in the new global economy.

The Organization of Work: Implications for Injury and Illness Among Immigrant Latino Poultry-Processing Workers

The US poultry-processing industry employs a large number of immigrants and has among the highest occupational illness rates for manufacturing. Previous research has not studied the potential health effects of psychosocial indicators of how poultry-processing work is organized. The investigators collected survey data from 200 immigrant Latinos working in poultry processing. Management practices (eg, poor commitment to safety, abusive supervision) and indicators of job design (eg, authority, variety, psychological workload, frequent awkward posture, and repetitive movement) were associated with risk of recent musculoskeletal problems, respiratory problems, and self-reported injury/illness. The results provide preliminary evidence suggesting that the organization of work underlies injury and illness among immigrant workers in poultry processing.

Using lay health promoters in occupational health: outcome evaluation in a sample of Latino poultry-processing workers.

Lay Health Promoters (LHPs) are widely used in community health education, but their use and evaluation in occupational health has been limited to farm workers. Evaluation data were collected from 30 randomly selected Latino poultry processing workers who had an encounter with an LHP who delivered Marias Story, an occupational health lesson about cumulative trauma disorders (CTDs). Participants had good recall of Marias Story. Most participants (n = 18, 60%) could identify the primary occupational health exposure linked to CTDs, more than 50% of participants (n = 16) could recall one or more ways of preventing CTDs, and 43.3% (n = 13) described in detail recommended treatments. Nearly one-half (n = 12) reported an occupational health behavior change after hearing Marias Story. The results of this study suggest that LHPs may be effective in promoting occupational health and reducing occupational health disparities among ethnic minorities in high-risk occupations.

Personal protective equipment and work safety climate among Latino poultry processing workers in Western North Carolina, USA

Abstract Background: Job-appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) is important for decreasing the high rates of occupational injury experienced by poultry processing workers. Objectives: This analysis describes the job-appropriate PPE provided to poultry processing workers by their employers and the PPE used by these workers, and it delineates the association of work safety climate with job-appropriate PPE. Methods: Data are from a cross-sectional study of 403 Latino poultry processing workers in North Carolina. Results: Most poultry processing workers are not provided with nor use job-appropriate PPE; however, more workers use PPE than are provided. The provision and use of PPE differs by employer. Work safety climate was associated with use of job-appropriate PPE. Conclusions: Poultry processing workers should be provided with job-appropriate PPE. Workers’ use of PPE is an indicator of safety climate. Further research about work safety climate and other work organization characteristics and job safety characteristics is needed.

Employer, use of personal protective equipment, and work safety climate: Latino poultry processing workers.

BACKGROUND This analysis describes the work safety climate of Latino poultry processing workers and notes differences by worker personal characteristics and employer; describes the use of common personal protective equipment (PPE) among workers; and examines the associations of work safety climate with use of common PPE. METHODS Data are from a cross-sectional study of 403 Latino poultry processing workers in western North Carolina. RESULTS Work safety climate differed little by personal characteristics, but it did differ consistently by employer. Provision of PPE varied; for example, 27.2% of participants were provide with eye protection at no cost, 57.0% were provided with hand protection at no cost, and 84.7% were provided with protective clothing at no cost. PPE use varied by type. Provision of PPE at no cost was associated with lower work safety climate; this result was counter-intuitive. Consistent use of PPE was associated with higher work safety climate. CONCLUSIONS Work safety climate is important for improving workplace safety for immigrant workers. Research among immigrant workers should document work safety climate for different employers and industries, and delineate how work safety climate affects safety behavior and injuries.

3-D jobs and health disparities: The health implications of Latino chicken catchers' working conditions.

OBJECTIVES This study uses qualitative data to describe the tasks performed by chicken catchers, their organization of work, and possible health and safety hazards encountered. METHODS Twenty-one Latino immigrant chicken catchers for North Carolina poultry-processing plants were interviewed to obtain their perceptions of the job and its hazards. Interviews were recorded and transcribed (n = 10) or detailed notes recorded (n = 11). Transcripts and notes were subjected to qualitative analysis. RESULTS Chicken catching takes place in a highly contaminated and hazardous work environment. The fast pace of work, low level of control over work intensity, and piece rate compensation all result in high potential for work-related injury and illness, including trauma, electrical shock, respiratory effects, musculoskeletal injuries, and drug use. Workers receive little safety or job training. CONCLUSIONS Chicken catching is characterized by a work environment and organization of work that promote injury and illness.