Warehouse workers were in a state of panic during the summer of 2011 as they reached out to Ellen Widess, the leader of Cal/OSHA at that time, about unsafe conditions in Inland Empire warehouses. Reports emerged that higher-ups were threatening to contact immigration authorities if the workers continued to raise concerns about dangerous heat and other hazards. Widess took quick action, contacting federal officials to prevent any immigration crackdown while workers were attempting to address the unsafe working conditions. Thankfully, her efforts were successful back then, but she expressed doubts about the outcome if a similar situation were to occur today.
President Trump’s promises of mass deportations and the rollback of policies restricting immigration agents from making arrests in places like hospitals, churches, and schools have instilled fear in immigrant communities across the country. Reports of raids in major cities like New York City and Chicago have only heightened concerns among immigrants who fear deportation. This climate of fear has raised significant challenges for workplace safety advocates, who rely on workers to report health hazards in order to prevent illnesses and accidents.
Experts Warn of Impact on Workplace Safety
Debbie Berkowitz, a former federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration official under President Obama and a fellow at Georgetown University, stressed the importance of workers speaking up about safety issues to prevent larger health crises. She emphasized that workers are crucial in identifying and addressing potential hazards in the workplace, but the fear of employers contacting immigration authorities has made many hesitant to report safety concerns. The result is a potential hindrance to efforts aimed at ensuring safe working conditions for all employees.
Thurka Sangaramoorthy, an anthropologist at American University who has studied immigrant workers, highlighted the disconnect between workers’ rights to report unsafe conditions regardless of immigration status and the reality of their reluctance to do so due to the current enforcement climate. She noted that the fear of repercussions and deportation has created a chilling effect, preventing workers from exercising their rights and drawing attention to hazardous working conditions.
One analysis conducted by the W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research revealed a concerning trend in U.S. counties that participated in immigration enforcement programs in the past. The study found a significant decrease in complaints to government safety regulators in workplaces with Hispanic workers, coupled with an increase in workplace injuries. This disparity underscores the challenges faced by immigrant workers, who are more likely to be employed in dangerous industries and are at a higher risk of workplace fatalities compared to other workers.
Immigrant Workers at Risk
Immigrant workers in California face a myriad of health and safety risks in industries such as forestry, construction, and agriculture. From the threat of bird flu in dairies to the scorching heat faced by construction workers and the alarming outbreak of silicosis among young workers exposed to crystalline silica dust, the dangers are real and pervasive. Maegan Ortiz, executive director of the Instituto de Educacion Popular del Sur de California, noted the challenges faced by immigrant workers who are already hard to find and vulnerable to exploitation.
The fear of immigration enforcement has permeated every aspect of immigrant workers’ lives, including their ability to seek medical attention for work-related illnesses. Dr. Sheiphali Gandhi, an assistant professor of occupational and environmental medicine at UC San Francisco, highlighted the barriers faced by undocumented immigrants in accessing healthcare due to financial, legal, and linguistic obstacles. The reluctance to seek medical care unless absolutely necessary poses a significant threat to public health, especially in the context of emerging health crises like the COVID-19 pandemic.
In conclusion, the intersection of immigration enforcement and workplace safety presents a complex and pressing issue that requires immediate attention. The reluctance of immigrant workers to report safety hazards due to fear of deportation not only jeopardizes their own well-being but also poses a broader risk to public health and safety. Addressing these challenges will require a multi-faceted approach that prioritizes the protection of all workers, regardless of their immigration status, and ensures that safe working conditions are upheld for everyone.
