Affiliations: Howard R. Hughes College of EngineeringConstruction Management Under the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV, USA | Psychosocial Nursing Department, School of Nursing, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV, USA
Note: [] Corresponding author: Nancy Menzel, Psychosocial Nursing Department, School of Nursing, University of Nevada,4505 S. Maryland Parkway, Box 453018, Las Vegas, NV 89154-3018, USA. Tel.: +1 702 895 5970;Fax: +1 702 895 4807;
E-mail: nancy.menzel@unlv.edu
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Hispanic (Latino) construction workers experience
disparities in occupational death and injury rates in the United States. The
cultural value of respect for those in authority may hinder these workers from
requesting safe working conditions from supervisors. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether Hispanic construction workers in Las Vegas, Nevada found
assertiveness training more useful than non-Hispanic trainees and whether or
not they practiced this behavior at work after the training. METHODS: An assertiveness training simulation was part of fall prevention classes offered
to area construction workers. Eight weeks after the training, participants were
interviewed by telephone about class topics they found most useful and whether
or not they had made any subsequent behavior changes at work. RESULTS: More than half of the 760 fall prevention trainees completed telephone
interviews. A smaller proportion of Hispanic trainees found assertiveness
training to be useful (11%) than non-Hispanics (28%) (p⩽ 0.001).
Only 2% of both groups identified practicing assertiveness at work. CONCLUSIONS: A large proportion of Hispanic trainees valued other knowledge
more highly. They may weigh job security as more important than speaking up
about safety issues, which might threaten their employment. Interventions to
improve safety should focus instead on improving work safety climate and
engineering controls.
Keywords: Latino workers, occupational injury, Prevention through design
