" There are significant disparities in health status and access to health care among people of different social and economic circumstances. In most countries, disadvantaged individuals have higher rates of cardiovascular disease, musculoskeletal disorders, respiratory illness, gastrointestinal disease, and other common medical problems. Numerous studies indicate that ethnic and racial minorities, the poor, immigrants and migrant workers, and other subpopulations are particularly vulnerable to sickness, disability, and death. In addition, those social groups often experience inferior access to appropriate health care services (Aday, 1993; Benzeval, Judge, & Whitehead, 1995; Whitehead, 1997).
While considerable energy has been directed toward investigating socially predicated inequalities in general health and health care, comparatively little attention has been given to looking at variations in the occurrence of occupational injuries and illnesses among groups of workers' with differing sociodemographic characteristics. Moreover, few studies have examined whether there are inequalities in medical care for workers seeking treatment for job-related conditions.
Recently, several investigations have been undertaken that explore these issues. In the United States, changes in state workers' compensation systems and the introduction of managed care techniques into occupational medicine have stimulated new studies examining the quality of care being provided to injured workers and its effect on workers' health status and functional outcomes. Through these inquiries, more is being learned about socially based inequalities in occupational health and access to medical care for work-related conditions."

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