During the last decades, widely recognized environmental injustices have increased awareness that may influence the focus on underserved communities in environmental health. Health disparities outcomes of environmental injustices are defined as differences in injury and disease incidence, morbidity and mortality that exist among specific populations. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health recognizes that the contemporary U.S. work force is diverse and reflects changing demographics. The variety of work exposures generates occupational health disparities across racial and ethnic populations, arising from overrepresentation of racial and ethnic minority workers in the most hazardous industries and from the absence of occupational health and safety protections to certain worker populations due to social, cultural, and economic barriers including language, literacy, and marginal economic status. An environment with equity and equality, for a work force that
spends most of its waking hours at work, requires a crosssector collaboration to effectively reduce hazards (chemical and physical) and minimize stressors (discrimination, work organization). Selected innovative approaches and ongoing challenges will be discussed.