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. 2011 Sep-Oct;126 Suppl 3(Suppl 3):62-9.
doi: 10.1177/00333549111260S311.

Promoting health and safety in San Francisco's Chinatown restaurants: findings and lessons learned from a pilot observational checklist

Megan Gaydos  1 , Rajiv Bhatia, Alvaro Morales, Pam Tau Lee, Shaw San Liu, Charlotte Chang, Alicia L Salvatore, Niklas Krause, Meredith Minkler
Affiliations

Promoting health and safety in San Francisco's Chinatown restaurants: findings and lessons learned from a pilot observational checklist

Megan Gaydos et al. Public Health Rep. 2011 Sep-Oct.

Abstract

Noncompliance with labor and occupational health and safety laws contributes to economic and health inequities. Environmental health agencies are well positioned to monitor workplace conditions in many industries and support enhanced enforcement by responsible regulatory agencies. In collaboration with university and community partners, the San Francisco Department of Public Health used an observational checklist to assess preventable occupational injury hazards and compliance with employee notification requirements in 106 restaurants in San Francisco's Chinatown. Sixty-five percent of restaurants had not posted required minimum wage, paid sick leave, or workers' compensation notifications; 82% of restaurants lacked fully stocked first-aid kits; 52% lacked antislip mats; 37% lacked adequate ventilation; and 28% lacked adequate lighting. Supported by a larger community-based participatory research process, this pilot project helped to spur additional innovative health department collaborations to promote healthier workplaces.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Potential local public health agency actions to improve compliance with labor laws and occupational safety standards in restaurants: Chinatown Restaurant Worker Health Project, San Francisco, 2008
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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