In 2000 there were 35.3 million Hispanics in the United States, a 58 percent increase over the 22.4 million Hispanics recorded by the Census Bureau in 1990 (Census Bureau 2001 [1], Census Bureau 2001 [2]). This increase follows an increase of 53 percent in the United States Hispanic population between 1980 and 1990 (National Council of La Raza 2001). In 1990 Hispanics represented about 9 percent of the population. By 2000 the representation of Hispanics had grown to 12.5 percent (Census Bureau 2001 [1]). In 2050 it is predicted that Hispanics will represent one out of every four persons in the United States, up from about one in eight today (Census Bureau 2001 [3]).

While United States Hispanics of Mexican origin make up the largest segment of the country’s Hispanic population, those with origins in other Spanish-speaking countries and regions are also strongly represented among United States Hispanics (Census Bureau 2001 [1],) Table A presents the distribution of United States Hispanics by country of origin.

When looking at increases in the Hispanic population by state over the last decade (including both immigrant and non-immigrant Hispanics), it is clear that the states with traditionally large Hispanic populations continued to show the greatest numerical growth.

Front Matter (R1-R10)

Executive Summary (1-4)

1 Introduction (5-6)

2 Hispanic/Latino Occupational Health and Safety: Available Information and Information Gaps (7-16)

3 What Information Exists and What Are the Gaps? (17-18)

4 Development and Evaluation of Materials (19-22)

5 Delivery Mode (23-26)

6 Overarching Issues (27-30)

References (31-32)

Appendix A: Biographical Sketches of Committee Members (33-36)

Appendix B: Workshop Agenda (37-38)

Appendix C: Workshop Participants (39-42)

Appendix D: White Paper on Hispanic Workers in the United States: An Analysis of Employment Distributions, Fatal Occupational Injuries, and Non-fatal Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (43-82)

Appendix E: White Paper on an Examination of Occupational Safety and Health Materials Currently Available in Spanish for Workers as of 1999 (83-92)

Appendix F: White Paper on Reaching Spanish-speaking Workers and Employers with Occupational Safety and Health Information (93-112)

Appendix G: White Paper on an Examination of the Occupational Risks and Occupational Safety and Health Communication Needs of Spanish-speaking Children Who Are Employed or Live on Farms (113-128)

Appendix H: White Paper on Occupational Health Among Latino Workers: A Needs Assessment and Recommended Interventions (129-150)