Most Common Injuries Obtained By Migrant Workers

 

The International Labour Organization estimated that around 4% of the world population are migrant workers who leave their home country to search for work. The immigration status of a migrant worker can be legal or illegal.

Undocumented immigrants are individuals who enter another country such as the U.S. without legal permission or fail to leave when the permissible limit ends. Many of these undocumented immigrants decide to work throughout their stay. In 2017, the U.S. labor force had 27.4 million migrant workers who were more likely to be employed in service occupations. About 13% of the total population of the U.S. are immigrants, 70% of which are legal while 30% are illegal.

The National Immigration Law Center (NILC) works in the US to safeguard the rights of immigrant workers and include them in healthcare programs. The U.S. is one of the more popular countries for immigration as workers get paid more with lesser hours of work and better facilities.

 

What is Working immigrant Healthcare Options?

Depending on the eligibility criteria of the immigrant workers, below are the various sources of health care coverage:

1. Employer-sponsored plans

2. Specific health plans for immigrants

3. Medical coverage

4. Student health plans

5. Community health centers

6. Migrant health centers

7. Premium tax credits

Non-citizens are more likely to be uninsured and receive fewer health care options than citizens. Before selecting any insurance for yourself or your family, check your eligibility, the list of immigration status that qualifies for a particular coverage, and immigration health care options.

 

 

Injuries Obtained on the Job

Millions of workers die from fatal injuries or suffer from severe nonfatal injuries every year.

Migrant worker injuries are widespread, e.g., migrant farmworkers suffer mortality and morbidity rates higher than most Americans due to poverty, limited access to healthcare, dangerous working conditions, and lack of regulations. The most common workplace injuries include:

 

Overexertion injuries: These are related to various physical activities like pulling, lifting, pushing, etc. A survey revealed that 37% of workers sustain overexertion injuries.

Slipping/Tripping: About 31% of workplace injuries are slip-and-fall related, such as falling on a wet floor or tripping over something. If you slip and get hurt at work, you should get coverage, even if the slip resulted from your negligence.

Falling from heights: These type of falls may happen from roofs, ladders, or stairways, and can be caused by slipping or faulty equipment. Avoid such accidents with proper personal protection and care.

Falling object injuries: Objects that fall from shelves or are dropped by another person can cause serious injuries like head injuries.

Walking into injuries: Injuries caused when a person accidentally runs into solid objects like walls, doors, glass windows, table, chair, etc.

Vehicle accidents: These are common among employees traveling for work, car accidents being the most common. Employee training can reduce accidents.

Machine entanglement: These type of injuries occur in factories with heavy equipment and machinery. Some 17% of reported injuries are related to dangerous equipment and machinery.

Repetitive motion injuries: Typing and using the computer 24/7 can cause back pain, vision problems, or tennis elbow, and comprise 20% of work-related injuries.

Violent acts: About 5% of workplace injuries are due to physical assault by coworkers.

 

We, at Allista, understand the difficulties faced by migrant workers after sustaining an injury at work such as lack of information or resources and language barriers, which hinders your care and recovery. We provide assistance in patient care for injured migrant workers by providing resources so that you can focus on healing.

 

Do you have a migrant client with a work injury?