Fatal job injuries in Colorado declined in 2003, but the percentage of Hispanic workers killed on the job rose significantly, according to the AFL-CIO’s annual job-safety report being released today.
The state saw a 56 percent increase in Hispanic worker fatalities in 2003 with 25, compared with 16 in 2002. The highest number of Colorado Hispanic worker fatalities was in 2000 with 27 deaths.
“That’s a fairly high increase for the year, but the total numbers still aren’t that high,” said Deborah Weinstock, occupational safety and health specialist for the AFL-CIO in Washington, D.C.
In 2003, 102 workers died from job injuries in Colorado. Construction was the most dangerous industry with 23 deaths.
Roughly 19 percent of Colorado’s population was Hispanic in 2003, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Twenty-five percent of worker fatalities involved Hispanics that year.
Part of the problem is that many workplaces do not have dual-language safety instructions, said Polly Baca, executive director of the Latin American Research and Service Agency in Denver.
“It’s obvious that many workers are not getting the correct information in the language they need in order to prevent accidents,” she said. “We completely support the hiring of Spanish-speaking workers, but companies have to assume responsibility for their welfare.”
For the year, the AFL-CIO ranked Colorado 22nd overall in terms of fewest workplace fatalities. Wyoming ranked 50th with the most workplace fatalities, with 13.9 per 100,000 workers. Delaware came in first with 1.5 fatalities per 100,000 workers.
Staff writer Julie Dunn can be reached at 303-820-1592 or jdunn@denverpost.com.
