Why Are Latino Workers Facing Staggering Risks On North Carolina Construction Sites?

At the Ramsay Law Firm, P.A., our Charlotte workers’ compensation attorneys know why safety regulations are crucial at North Carolina construction sites. They protect workers from the hazards inherent in construction work, such as falls, equipment accidents, and exposure to harmful substances. These regulations ensure proper safety protocols, such as using personal protective equipment (PPE), regular safety training, and implementing hazard control measures. By adhering to these guidelines, construction companies can significantly reduce the risk of accidents and injuries, fostering a safer work environment.

North Carolina construction site safety is governed primarily by the North Carolina Department of Labor (NCDOL), specifically through its Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Division. The OSH Division enforces workplace safety and health standards to ensure construction sites comply with state and federal regulations.

Unfortunately, even with these protection requirements and agency oversight in place, one group of workers faces exceptional risks that others do not: Latino construction workers.

The Charlotte Observer took an in-depth look at why Latino workers are at a much higher risk of dying on North Carolina construction sites than white and Black workers. Here, we review its investigation and findings.

Why Latino Workers Are Facing Greater Risks than Other Groups on North Carolina Construction Sites

According to the Charlotte Observer’s investigative report, two numbers tell much of the story.

The U.S. Census Bureau reported that Hispanic employees make up 27% of those who work on North Carolina construction sites. But they accounted for more than 60% of the construction employees who died on the job, according to the last annual count.

Mauricio Solano, operations director at El Centro Hispano, said more needs to be done to protect Hispanic construction workers. His group advocates for North Carolina’s Hispanic population, which is 10.5% of the state’s population.

Too many contractors let workers on construction sites without proper safety training, he said. “The workers must demand safety,” he said. “This is hard work. The workers need to know what is safe.”

Based on the Observer’s research, other common reasons Hispanic workers are facing significantly higher injury and fatality risks include:

• Latino workers perform many of the most dangerous jobs and tasks, such as roofing.
• Latino workers are more vulnerable to pressure from supervisors who want potentially dangerous jobs done fast because they don’t want to lose their jobs.
• Latino workers who recently came to the U.S. may face exceptionally high risks, as they are unfamiliar with American labor laws and may not receive safety equipment or training.
• Latino workers may also be less likely to decline a hazardous task or report an unsafe work environment.
• Language barriers may also play a role, particularly when companies don’t help foreign-born workers overcome them by providing translators on job sites.

Clermont Ripley, Co-Director of the North Carolina Justice Center’s Workers’ Rights Project, said the large number of deaths among Hispanic workers suggests “we’re not valuing the lives of Latino workers the same as others.” “When we look at that high percentage, we should be outraged,” she said. “We should be demanding that something be done about this.”

Latino workers face higher risks at many job sites, not just construction. From 2009 to 2017, Latino people in North Carolina died on the job at roughly twice the rate of white and Black workers, according to a 2022 study published in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine. Morgan Richey, an author of that study, says companies and regulators owe it to workers to stop that pattern.

Have You Been Injured on a Construction Site in North Carolina?

Our dedicated Mecklenburg County workers’ compensation law firm provides free consultations to all employees who have suffered a workplace injury in North Carolina by calling 704-376-1616 or contacting us online.

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