Gyan Pathak
The world has already lost 7,000 health workers since the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic and about 136 million health and social care workers are at great risk of contracting the infection while braving the disease to help others survive. However, the tremendous pressure of handling the patients day and night has adversely affected their mental health. One in five healthcare workers globally has reported depression and anxiety symptoms.
The issue has been highlighted in a new report released by the International Labour Organization (ILO) while highlighting the workplace dangers faced by key workers who need greater protection to do their jobs safely. The devastating COVID-19 has underlined the need to minimize the risks for everyone in the workplace and put strong and resilient safety systems in place in the event of future health emergencies.
The document “Anticipate, prepare, and respond to crises: Invest now in resilient (OSH) Occupational Safety and Health systems” has said that it is not only a health emergency but also has profoundly impacted on nearly every aspect of the world of work – from the immediate threat of acquiring the virus to lockdowns, the closure of businesses, school closures, widespread job losses in key sectors, global supply chain disruption and restrictions on mobility.
In some cases, COVID-19 infections may be attributed to workplace exposure, and certain workplace settings – such as healthcare and social care – have been particularly affected. It is worth mentioning that 14 per cent of all global infections occurred in healthcare workers. In European countries 25 per cent of cases have occurred among healthcare workers. In the Americas, COVID-19 has infected over 570,000 health workers and killed 2,500. In African countries, health workers constitute more than 5 per cent of cases with some countries accounting for more than 10 per cent.
In addition to the risk of the contagion, workers in all sectors have faced other hazards that have emerged due to new work practices and procedures adopted to mitigate the spread the virus. Mitigation strategies have rapidly been adopted, including administrative and engineering controls, working from home arrangements, increased use of PPE and disinfection, etc. These measures might help slow the spread of the virus, but they can create new OSH risks, including chemical, ergonomic and psychosocial hazards.
Healthcare and emergency workers – and also essential workers – have faced many stressful situations at work as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Increased workloads, longer working hours and reduced rest periods have become the norm during the crisis. The risk of violence and harassment at work has also risen, with consequences for both physical and mental well-being. Many healthcare workers have had to confront difficult decisions resulting in moral fatigue, such as choosing how to allocate limited resources when faced with many serious cases in intensive care.
Teleworking has been widely implemented in many settings – and while this is often essential to limit the spread of the virus and maintain jobs and business continuity, it has led to certain OSH concerns including ergonomic and psychosocial risks. It might provide workers with increased flexibility but many of them also struggle with “presenteeism”, ie the blurring of lines between work and private life, musculoskeletal disorders caused by stationary work in front of a computer, the responsibility of caring for children or parents while working, and the social isolation that may come from not being in the office – which affects professional development.
The pandemic has also witnessed an increase in the number of cases of domestic violence, including for workers confined to the home due to lockdowns, with up to five times more calls globally to domestic violence helplines.
The report highlighted the crucial role of international labour standards (ILS) in responding to the COVID-19 crisis while urging the countries to implement the same, which includes promoting, respecting and implementing ILS provisions on occupational safety and health, working arrangements, protection of specific categories of workers, non-discrimination, social and employment security while adjusting to the socio-economic consequences of the pandemic. A wide range of ILO labour standards on employment, social protection, wage protection, promotion of MSMEs or workplace cooperation can also be taken when tackling the crisis and promoting economic recovery.
National public health and OSH system needs to be strengthened along with a sound national policy and regulatory framework which is essential for the protection and promotion of physical and mental health at work. Such a system is required to ensure that working environments are safe and healthy, and that there is a clear and well-known established set of rights and duties. The report calls for recognition of COVID-19 as an occupational disease in all countries. Presently, only a few counties have this provision, and workers are compensated for any infection at work or the consequences of working under stressful conditions due to COVID-19.
There are also new legal requirements to prevent the spread of the virus in the workplace to adapt proactively to new contexts and to allow for rapid and appropriate emergency responses. Enterprises need to identify potential sources of exposure, taking into account all work areas and tasks performed by workers. Almost all countries have issued guidelines, but there is still much to be done. Even in G20 countries, ventilation and air filters are available for 73 per cent, physical barriers 64 per cent, and using marker tape on the floor, one-way systems etc 64 per cent. Organizational and administrative measures included teleworking 82 per cent, holding meetings virtually 80 per cent, physical distancing 73 per cent, involving workers in reviewing and updating risk assessments 64 per cent, measures to control other risks related to the crisis and the changes put in place to deal with it 64 per cent, training of workers 64 per cent, working time shifts to reduce onsite presence 63 per cent, and discontinuing non-essential travel 73 per cent. Other measures such as use of PPE is 82 per cent, monitoring and supervision 73 per cent, cleaning and ensuring hygiene 73 per cent, an procedures dealing with worker with symptoms or tested positive only 64 per cent. Non-G20 countries are far behind in implementing such measures.
ILO has called for stronger mechanism in every country to ensure compliance with national laws and regulations, including system inspection, to protect health and key workers to save life and economic resources to sustain it. (IPA)
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