A methodological framework to guide the Covid-19 prevention strategies in Italian workplaces

ABSTRACT

Introduction: COVID-19 pandemic affected health and safety of workers worldwide showing several types of working conditions at risk of infection. A methodology to assess the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the workplace, has been developed in Italy and adopted by the Government authorities to guide the National prevention strategies. Material and Methods: A model that includes the analysis of proximity between employees and potential exposure while they work, has been integrated with social aggregation, a specific factor connected to the job due to the involvement of third parties in work processes. The comparative analysis between risk levels and insurance claims for occupational injuries by sector, supported the model validation. The estimated risk class and the incidence of compensation claims were used also as quantitative indicators to prioritize the vaccination campaign in workplaces. Results: According to the NACE classification, the activity sectors have been classified into four levels of risk (high, medium-high, medium-low, low). By June 2021, the economic sectors at high or medium-high risk of COVID-19 infection (i.e. ‘Human health and social work activities’ and ‘Public administration’) included 75% of applications with occupational origin. Conclusions: This methodological approach guided the modular reopening of work activities for a safe reactivation of businesses. The prioritization of the workplace vaccination strategy taking into account the risk by different productive sectors, may contribute to the fastest achievement of the whole population immunity as progressive “exit strategy” from Covid-19 pandemic.