Solis to Convene Latino Worker Safety Summit in Houston
Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis will convene a National Action Summit for Latino Worker Health and Safety on April 14 and 15 in Houston, Texas. Co-sponsored by OSHA and NIOSH, the summit will be geared for workers and representatives from unions, employer associations, community organizations, day labor centers, the interfaith community, the academic community, Latino organizations, health professionals, medical clinics, consulates, federal and state agencies, and others with the goal of reducing injuries and illness among Latino workers by enhancing their knowledge of their rights and their ability to exercise those rights.
The event will focus on the construction and other high-risk industries with large numbers of Latino workers; OSHA says the goals will be to showcase innovative partnerships, demonstrate successful education and training strategies, and develop effective enforcement and communication strategies. Solis will deliver the keynote address.
The summit will take place at the Hilton Americas Hotel, 1600 Lamar Street, in Houston. On April 14, the event begins at 1 p.m. CDT; on April 15, it begins at 8:45 a.m. CDT. For information on the conference’s workshops, visit https://www.osha.gov/latinosummit/index.html.
Two days after the summit, on April 17, a “We Can Help” safety and worker rights fair will be held at the George R. Brown Convention Center (Hall A) in Houston from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. CDT. The fair is co-sponsored by OSHA and the Labor Department’s Wage and Hour Division and will provide free information on worker rights and resources, games for children, family safety training, and health and medical services.