Larkin L Strong, MPH, Department of Health Services, University of Washington, Box 357660, Seattle, WA 98195-7760, 206-324-4279, lstrong@u.washington.edu and Frederick J. Zimmerman, PhD, Department of Health Services & Child Health Institute, University of Washington, Box 354920, 6200 NE 74th Street, Suite 210A, Seattle, WA 98115-8160.

The extent to which race and ethnicity currently contribute to disparities in occupational health has not been examined thoroughly. We analyzed data from 1988 to 2000 on currently working individuals using the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY) to 1) describe the occupational characteristics of non-Hispanic White, African American, and Hispanic workers; 2) examine the relationship between ethnicity and self-reported lost-worktime occupational injury; and 3) assess the relationship between ethnicity and the number of workdays missed due to the injury. Notable differences in occupational characteristics by ethnicity were observed, with Hispanics and African Americans significantly more likely than non-Hispanic White workers to be employed in blue-collar occupations, work later shifts, and earn lower wages. Using logistic regression and negative binomial regression, our multivariate analyses controlled for important individual and job-related variables. Occupational factors, namely blue-collar occupations, working full-time, longer tenure, working one job as compared with two, and late shift work were associated with increased odds of an occupational injury. Although minority workers were no more likely than Whites to report an occupational injury, they report missing more work: African American men and women and Hispanic men missed significantly more days of work than non-Hispanic White men and women, respectively. This finding suggests increased injury severity among minority workers conditional on an injury. Factors associated with occupational health are multi-faceted and complex. Our findings suggest that race and ethnicity influence occupational health by acting both through occupational characteristics and independently of them.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify the occupations in which African American, Hispanic, and non-Hispanic White workers are most likely to be employed;
• Describe occupational and individual risk factors for occupational injuries;
• Recognize how race and ethnicity contribute to disparities in occupational health as suggested by this study.

Keywords: Occupational Injury and Death, Ethnicity

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.