TRADE NEWS RELEASE
May 21, 2002
Contact: Lydia Kleiner
Phone: (202) 693-1999

WASHINGTON, DC-- A new Spanish language publication, Todo Sobre La OSHA -- All About OSHA -- will help Spanish-speaking employees understand more about safety and health in the workplace, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced today. The publication is a translation of All About OSHA, a 61-page booklet that covers job safety, employers' duties and workers rights, and offers extensive information on how to make workplaces safer.

"We are concerned about the high rate of injuries and illnesses among Hispanic workers, and we are doing everything we can to reduce that trend," said John L. Henshaw, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health. "Outreach is an important part of our effort to reduce injuries and illnesses in the immigrant communities."

This Spanish version manual is part of OSHA's growing outreach to Spanish speaking workers -- including a recently launched Spanish language web site www.osha.gov/as/opa/spanish/, new data collection efforts to track non-English-speaking employees and employers, and Spanish language options for OSHA's 800 number 1-800-321-OSHA.

Todo Sobre La OSHA (All About OSHA) lists OSHA offices throughout the country, describes employer and employee responsibilities, legal rights, the inspection process, and provides guidance for consultations. The manual offers an overview of OSHA and its mission, and provides a list of resources for employers and workers.

"Most employers and workers want to do the right thing," said Henshaw. "Our job is to help them understand what needs to be done and why safety and health is important for their well being. By offering more resources in Spanish, we hope to encourage a wider use of our materials, leading to worker protection, fewer injuries and fewer fatalities."

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2000 the fatality rate for Hispanic employees climbed by more than 11 percent, while deaths for all other groups declined. As a result of this unacceptably high rate, in August 2001, OSHA established an ongoing task force to reach across language barriers to employers and workers. This task force is exploring ways to improve communications, and to offer Spanish speaking employers and workers access to a range of information that can help make their workplaces safer.

The new Spanish-language manual can also be ordered through OSHA's Publications department at (202) 693-1888.