Roughly translated, that means: "OSHA Unveils new Web Page for Spanish-Speaking Employers and Workers."
Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao hopes a new Spanish Web page will help the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reach out to non-English speaking employers and workers.
The announcement of the Web page came just two weeks before Chao is expected to participate in a hearing on immigrant and low-wage worker safety and health held by the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee chaired by Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-MA). Members of the committee are concerned about the escalating rates of injuries and fatalities among immigrant workers.
"Job safety and health depends on employees and employers knowing what they must do to ensure workplace protections," said Chao. "That starts with understanding vital, basic information about preventing injuries, illnesses and fatalities. Through our new Spanish page, millions more employers and workers in this country will have access to information they can use to make their workplaces safer."
The Web page, which can be found by going to the OSHA homepage at www.osha.gov, initially focuses on several areas: an overview of OSHA and its mission; how to file complaints electronically in Spanish; worker and employer rights and responsibilities; and a list of resources for employers and workers. The new page features highlights from OSHA''s Web site and offers one-stop service for Spanish-speaking employers and employees. Additional information will be added in months to come.
"One of our top priorities is expanded outreach and education," Chao said. "More than 10 million Americans speak little or no English, and one in five Americans does not speak English at home. Too many of these workers, especially Spanish-speaking workers, have experienced on-the-job injuries, illnesses and fatalities."
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the fatality rate for Hispanic employees climbed by more than 11 percent in 2000, while deaths for all other groups declined.
by Sandy Smith ([email protected])