Worker Perspectives on COVID-19 Risks: A Qualitative Study of Latino Construction Workers in Oakland, California
Erika Meza; Leslie Giglio; Ana O. Franco; Elizabeth Rodriguez; Laura Stock; John Balmes; Jacqueline M. Torres; Alicia Fernandez
Latino construction workers in the U.S. have faced a disproportionate risk for COVID-19 infection in the workplace. Prior studies have focused on quantifying workplace risk for COVID-19 infection: few have captured workers&rsquo: experiences and perspectives. This study describes COVID-19-related workplace risks from the perspectives of Latino construction workers. We conducted a qualitative study using semi-structured phone interviews with Latino construction workers from the Fruitvale District of Oakland, California. Twenty individuals were interviewed from December 2020 to March 2021. Nearly all participants (19/20) were Spanish-speaking men: mean age 42.6 years. The majority were low-income and over one-third did not have health insurance. Participants worked in varied construction-related jobs ranging from demolition to office work: additionally, four were day laborers, and three belonged to a labor union. We identified four major themes with public health policy and workplace safety implications: (1) Major concern about the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection for family health and economic wellbeing: (2) Clarity about mask use and social distancing but not disclosure: (3) Variability in access to additional resources provided by employers: and (4) Uncertainty around structural support for SARS-CoV-2 quarantine/isolation. Our findings provide further evidence from workers&rsquo: own perspectives of the major gaps experienced during the pandemic in workplace protections and resources.
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