Trends in racial inequality and exposure to work-related hazards, 1968-1986.

Two important public policies of the past 15 to 20 years--equal employment opportunity and occupational health--have been implemented independently, and imperfectly. By combining diverse data sets, a general gain is seen. The excess risk of disabling occupational injury faced by black men has declined, although it remains substantial; relative risks for black women have increased. Opportunity has outpaced safety. Although combined trends are equivocally positive, relative inequities remain, and absolute injury rates for all workers are increasing.