Occupational Health and Safety of Immigrant Workers in Italy and Spain: A Scoping Review

Abstract

The main aim of the present study was to summarize the available literature on the topic of occupational health and safety (OH&S) among immigrant workers (IMWs) in Italy and Spain. We conducted a scoping review, searching Medline, Social Sciences Citation Index, PsycINFO, CINAHL Plus, SciELO, and EMBASE for peer-reviewed articles, published in English, Italian, or Spanish, between 1999–2018. 34 studies were included, 28 with quantitative methodology and 6 with qualitative. Main findings were that, compared to natives, IMWs in Italy and Spain showed higher prevalence of low-skilled jobs and of perceived discrimination at work; higher physical demands, poorer environmental working conditions, and more exposure to occupational risks (e.g., ergonomic and psychosocial hazards); a greater risk of occupational injuries; worse general and mental health; and a plausible worsening of their health status, especially in Spain, as a result of the economic crisis. The findings of the present scoping review constitute warning signs that indicate the need for a holistic global response to ensure that adverse OH&S outcomes among IMWs workers are improved and that equitable access to health care is guaranteed. Such a response will require a concrete and evidence-based approach to prevent and monitor occupational risk factors and associated outcomes in the workplaces.

Risk Perception and Ethnic Background in Construction Workers: Results of a Cross-Sectional Study in a Group of Trainees of a Vocational School in Italy

“…On the other hand, other factors that were significantly different between Italians and immigrant workers, as e.g., the type of work contract, and that may have played a role in explaining, also, the differences in risk perception that were appropriately considered as confounders in the multivariate model. Finally, other factors that we did not appropriately consider may have an impact on the perception of the occupational risks, and can be significantly different among various ethnic groups: we think in particular to the habit of alcohol consumption, that can represent an issue for some immigrant populations while not for others [38,40].…”

Environmental, Health and Sociodemographic Determinants Related to Common Mental Disorders in Adults: A Spanish Country-Wide Population-Based Study (2006–2017)

“…Foreigners had an increased likelihood of suffering from CMD. There may be many reasons for this: the emotional burden of the migratory process, unfavorable living conditions, general ignorance of the country of residence, a precarious socioeconomic situation, the difficulty of learning and communicating in a new language, family upheaval or the strong cultural shock they experience [87][88][89].…”

Psychosocial Working Conditions and Well-Being of Migrant Workers in Spain

“…Finally, the negative impact of the 2008 economic crisis on Spanish/native workers needs to be considered when interpreting the findings. The 2008 economic crisis in Spain has been associated with a significant increase in physical demands in Spanish workers, which until then was common among foreign national workers but, following the recession, was equally affecting Spaniards [19,52].…”