COVID-19 and the workplace

ABSTRACT

The SARS-CoV-2 virus pandemics has raised several challenges at the workplace. Within the omega-net COVID-19 taskforce, we developed standardized COVID-19 questionnaires for occupational research, a multi-country COVID-19 Job Exposure Matrix, and research on COVID-19 as an occupational disease. The compiled questionnaire resource covers all key aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic, including COVID-19 diagnosis & prevention, Health and demographic, Use of personal protective equipment, Health effects, Work-related effects, Financial effects, Work-based risk factors, Psychosocial risk factors, Lifestyle risk factors, and Personal evaluation of the impact of COVID-19. For each of the domains additional questions are available. A second questionnaire (in a short and along version) focusses on occupational risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 disease. The questionnaires are available online at https//omeganetcohorts.eu/news/covid19-questionnaires-omeganet/. The JEM was developed by experts from three European countries (Denmark, the Netherlands, UK), who defined the relevant exposure and workplace characteristics with regard to the possible exposure to SARS-COV 2 infection. The C19-JEM contains four determinants of transmission risk (number of people, type of people, indirect contact and location), two mitigation measures (social distance and face covering), and two social factors (income insecurity and migrant workers). Finally, we developed and piloted a questionnaire on COVID-19 as occupational disease, which provide data on 1) COVID-19 as occupational disease or injury, 2) criteria for recognition and compensation regarding exposure, disease, role of use of PPE and of competing non-occupational exposure;and 3) what can be compensated. Results are available from 36 largely European countries. Through the development and implementation of tools we not only provide instruments, but also insights on the occupational risks and diseases in relation to SARS-COV 2.