Exposure to SARS-CoV-2 at work and coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Survey with workers

ABSTRACT

IntroductionWith COVID-19 world dissemination, WHO declared a Public Health Emergency of International Relevance on March, 11th, 2020. In the face of absent effective treatment or vaccine for all, workers unable to comply with social distance were subjected to company health and security management policies. This study explored the knowledge on workspace safety measures.Methods2002 workers had accessed to self-reporting forms from December/2020 through March/2021. From these, over a thousand answered some of the questions, while 687 had filled most of the forms on the RedCap platform.ResultsFrom 687 workers distributed in 22 Units of Federation, the greater representation were SP (33%), RJ (30%) RS (19%) states. The majority belonging to health (22%), post office (11,3%), services (9,5%), education (9%) and extractive industry (9%). Participants were 54% women and 59% white. Among them, 24% were confirmed as positive for COVID-19. More than half (53%) believed contamination occurred at or during commute to work and 18% were undetermined. Regarding capacitation promoted by employers, 63% reported it as non-present or insufficient. The majority (70%) considered the collective space to address preventive measures as absent and/or insufficient, as well sanitary barriers use in employee and costumer distancing (2 m). 55% stated individual protection equipment were not supplied regularly and sufficiently since the beginning of pandemic.ConclusionThe findings in this study revealed deficiencies in contingency plans adopted by companies and workplace safety measures policy as well. Furthermore, inadequate protection equipment supply during COVID-19 pandemic was also reported. This situation increased insecurity and exposure risk to SARS-CoV-2 in workers, reducing preventive measures effectiveness to mitigate pandemic, turning workplace in an important locus for virus spread. Financial support Vice-Presidency of Environment, Attention and Health Promotion of the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation and Public Ministry of Labor - 4th Region.