working conditions and health in central america a survey of 12024 workers in six countries objective to describe the survey methodology and initial general findings of the first central american survey of working conditions and healthmethods a representative sample of 12024 workers was interviewed at home in costa rica el salvador guatemala honduras nicaragua and panama questionnaire items addressed worker demographics employment conditions occupational risk factors and selfperceived healthresults overall selfemployment 37 is the most frequent type of employment 8 of employees lack a work contract and 74 of the workforce is not covered by social security these percentages are higher in guatemala honduras and el salvador and lower in costa rica panama and nicaragua a third of the workforce works more than 48 h per week regardless of gender this is similar across countries women and men report frequent or usual exposures to high ambient temperature 16 and 25 respectively dangerous tools and machinery 10 24 work on slippery surfaces 10 23 breathing chemicals 121 18 handling toxic substances 5 121 heavy loads 6 20 and repetitive movements 43 49 twothirds of the workforce perceive their health as being good or very good and slightly more than half reports having good mental healthconclusions the survey offers for the first time comparable data on the work and health status of workers in the formal and informal economy in the six spanishspeaking central american countries based on representative national samples this provides a benchmark for future monitoring of employment and working conditions across countries