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In the face of a
pandemic:
Ensuring Safety
and Health at Work

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Epidemics and pandemics in the 21st century

Origins Dynamics Global spreading

Re-emerging known epidemic 1. Emergence in a community Unprecedented high speed of

diseases (e.g. Ebola, cholera, transmission worldwide
2. Outbreak with localized
yellow fever, HIV, etc.)
transmission  Global integration
Newly-emerging infectious
3. Outbreak amplification into an  Travels
diseases (e.g. SARS, H1N1
epidemic or pandemic
influenza, MERS, Covid-19)  Urbanization
4. Reduced transmission

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The Covid-19 pandemic

January 2020:  Impact on the world of work

outbreak of a new coronavirus
disease in Hubei (China)  Increased unemployment and underemployment

11th March 2020:  Worsened OSH and working conditions

WHO declared Covid-19
pandemic
 Reduced access to social protection
 Particularly negative effects on specific groups more vulnerable to
adverse labour market outcomes

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Why a focus on safety and health at work?

 Identification of workers / occupations / sectors at increased risk of

contagion
 Implementation of control and prevention measures based on risk
assessment
 Dissemination of information on preventive and protective measures
to reduce the spread of infectious diseases, in collaboration with
public health authorities

World Day for Safety and Health at Work 28 April 2020

OSH rights and
responsibilities according
to ILO standards
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Employers’ roles and responsibilities

 Ensure that, so far as is reasonably practicable, the workplaces, machinery, equipment and processes under
their control are safe and without risk to health.
 Ensure that, so far as is reasonably practicable, the chemical, physical and biological substances and
agents under their control are without risk to health when the appropriate measures of protection are taken.
 Provide, where necessary, adequate protective clothing and protective equipment (at no cost to workers)
 Provide, where necessary, for measures to deal with emergencies and accidents, including adequate first-
aid arrangements.
 Ensure that workers and their representatives are consulted, informed, and trained on OSH

Occupational Safety and Health Convention (No. 155) and Recommendation (No. 164)

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Workers’ rights and responsibilities

 Right to remove themselves from a work situation which they have reasonable justification to believe
presents an imminent and serious danger to their life or health, without undue consequences
 Right to receive adequate information and training on OSH
 Right to enquire into (and to be consulted on) all aspects of OSH associated with their work
 Duty to co-operate with the employer in the field of OSH (e.g. comply with OSH instructions and procedures;
use PPE correctly; report to supervisor hazardous situation; etc.)

Occupational Safety and Health Convention (No. 155) and Recommendation (No. 164)

World Day for Safety and Health at Work 28 April 2020

Protecting workers from the
risk of contagion during an
outbreak
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Assessment of the risk of contagion at work

 Probability to be exposed to the risk of contagion, taking into account the characteristic of the infectious
disease (i.e., transmission patterns) and the possibility that workers may encounter infectious persons or
may be exposed to contaminated environments or materials (e.g., laboratory samples, waste) in the course
of their duties

 Severity of the resulting health outcomes, taking into account individual affecting factors (including age,
underlying diseases and health conditions), as well as the measures available to control the impact of the
infection

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Emergency response workers

 Health care workers

 Laboratory personnel
 Death care workers
 Emergency transport workers
 Cleaners and waste management workers in
health-care and emergency facilities
 Others (e.g. police officers, civil protection
personnel, military personnel, fire fighters)

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Emergency response workers

Risk of contagion
 Contact with infectious patients and co-workers

 Contact with infectious blood, tissue and bodily fluids

 Contact with bodies of persons who have died from highly infectious
diseases

 Contact with contaminated materials, surfaces and environments

 Medical equipment and personal protective equipment (PPE) not

properly used, cleaned or disinfected

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Emergency response workers

Examples of measures to prevent contagion
 Environmental and engineering controls aiming at reducing the
spread of pathogens and the contamination of surfaces and objects
(physical distance between patients and health-care /emergency
workers; ventilated isolation rooms; etc.)

 Administrative measures aiming to prevent risky behaviour (infection

prevention and control (IPC) procedures; OSH training; health
monitoring and surveillance; etc.)

 Appropriate PPE and training on how to put on, remove, and dispose
of them

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Workers in essential activities

 Workers who interact with potentially infectious

individuals (e.g., workers in shops and supermarkets,
banks, schools, delivery services, restaurants, sports
and tourist facilities, etc.)

 Workers in high-density work, due to the proximity with

other workers in semiconfined settings (e.g., factories,
call centers, open space offices, etc.)

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Examples of measures to prevent contagion

 Physical distance (e.g., introducing working shifts; using phone calls and virtual meetings; etc.)
 Hygiene (e.g. providing hand disinfectants; promoting good respiratory hygiene at the workplace; etc.)
 Cleaning (e.g. regularly cleaning and disinfecting the surfaces of desks, workstations and working objects;
regularly disinfecting common areas; etc).
 Training and communication (e.g. on the preventive measures adopted; on their right to remove themselves
from a work situation that poses an imminent and serious danger for life or health, etc.)
 Personal protective equipment (PPE).
 Response (e.g., arranging for isolation of any person who develops symptoms at the work site and
adequately disinfecting the work site; providing health surveillance of persons who have been in close
contact with the infected worker).

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Informal workers

 May need work despite restrictions on movement and social

interaction

 May not be able to comply with OSH measures and precautions

 Lack sufficient protection (e.g., social protection, sick leave,

unemployment benefits)

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Addressing stress,
psychosocial risks and
violence and harassment
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Stress and psychosocial factors during a pandemic

Common psychosocial factors Common responses

 Fear for one’s own health and well-being or that of  Stress
family members and co-workers  Low mood
 Lack of safety equipment for personal protection  Low motivation
 Isolation  Anxiety and depression
 Lack of social support
 Tension between established safety protocols and
the desire to care for or support individual
 Serious effects on mental health
 Difficulty in maintaining self-care activities (e.g.
exercise, good eating habits, rest, etc.)

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Job uncertainty

 A large number of workers, Present and future uncertainty

entrepreneurs and self- of the work situation
employed persons out of work  Increased stress
 Temporary closure of  Anxiety, depression and
businesses imposed (e.g. burnout
during confinement)
 Reduced motivation
 Changes in work processes  Low compliance with safety
and arrangements
efforts (higher work-related
injuries)

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Workers in the emergency response and in essential services

Common psychosocial factors
 Fear of being infected at work and then passing on Increased fatigue and stress
the disease to families  Negatively impact mental
 Lack of access to PPE and support health and well-being
 Working in environments with low capacity to apply  Increase the risk of work
optimal OSH measures
injuries and accidents
 Increased workload
(reduction in staff, work longer and consecutive shifts)
 Reduced rest periods
 Increased violence and harassment
(both physical and psychological)
 Increased social stigma and discrimination
(because of a perceived link with a disease)
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Workers in the emergency response and in essential services

Examples of OSH measures to prevent and reduce stress
 Good communication and up-to-date information
 Multidisciplinary sessions to identify concerns and to work together on strategies to solve problems
 Checklist to assess personal strengths and limitations, and recognize signs of stress and burnout
 Buddy system to provide psychological support and monitor stress and burnout
 Regulated rest periods for taking sufficient rest breaks during the work day
 Opportunities to promote physical health (e.g., exercise, healthy eating habits)
 Psychological support for workers to share fears and worries confidentially
 Role-modelling (managers/supervisors conduct themselves in ways that show how to mitigate stress)
 Campaigns to reduce stigma
 Participatory techniques which can promote dialogue, innovative solutions and positive changes in attitude
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People working from home

Common psychosocial factors
 Inadequate information
 Isolation
 Long working hours
 Blurring lines between work and family life
 Multiple burdens (working duties, household chores,
caretakers, home-schooling, etc.)
 Frustration and boredom
 Domestic violence

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People working from home

Examples of OSH measures to prevent and reduce stress
 Management commitment and support and connection with supervisors and colleagues
 Clear expectations (e.g., results to achieve, tasks, etc.)
 Flexibility
 Disconnection from work at specified times reserved for rest and personal life
 Appropriate equipment (e.g., laptops, apps for teleworking, adequate IT support) and dedicated workspace
 Training
 Good system of communication
 Support services, including employee assistance programs

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Managing other OSH risks
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Ergonomics

 Manual handling of loads  Musculoskeletal injuries

 Awkward postures  Diminished work capacity

… associated with longer working time,  Reduced ability to adhere to strict work practices
higher work load and high-pressure
 Increased absenteeism

 Higher risk of workplace accidents

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OSH risks associated with the use of heavy PPE

Health care workers may also face risks arising from the prolonged use
of heavy PPE:

 Heat stress and dehydration

 Dizziness

 Physical markings on faces

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Chemicals

Cleaning and disinfection with All workers must be properly trained on

chemicals become key elements to the correct and safe use of chemicals and
prevent contagion in all workplace briefed on their risks and exposure levels
Quaternary ammonium and
sodium hypochlorite (frequently
used to disinfect against Covid-19)
may
 increase risk of COPD
 reduce fertility
 affect asthma symptoms

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People working from home

Home settings often do not meet Workers should receive adequate information on:
the same OSH standards as those  reviewing where the screen is located to avoid glare;
available at the official worksites,
in relation to both:  How best to place equipment to minimize twisting or
overreaching;
 facilities and equipment
 Varying work tasks to change positions;
 physical environment (such as
heat, cold, lighting, electrical  Taking regular breaks and to stand and move for one
safety, home hygiene, etc.) minute every hour

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Joint efforts to protect the
safety and health of all
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ILO key pillars in responding to the Covid-19 crisis

 Stimulating the economy and employment, through active fiscal policy, accommodative monetary policy,
lending and financial support to specific sectors, including the health sector.
 Supporting enterprises, jobs and incomes, by extending social protection for all, implementing
employment retention measures, providing financial/tax and other relief for enterprises.
 Protecting workers in the workplace, by strengthening OSH measures, adapting work arrangements (e.g.
teleworking), preventing discrimination and exclusion, providing health access for all, expand access to paid
leave.
 Relying on social dialogue for solutions, by strengthening the capacity and resilience of employers’ and
workers’ organizations, strengthening the capacity of governments, strengthen social dialogue, collective
bargaining and labour relations institutions and processes.

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Integrating OSH into government crisis responses

Promote safe and decent working conditions, including the provision of personal protective equipment and
medical assistance for all workers, comprising those engaged in rescue and rehabilitation activities

Review, establish, re-establish or reinforce labour legislation, if necessary, including provisions on labour
protection and safety and health at work

ILO Employment and Decent Work for Peace and Resilience Recommendation, 2017 (No. 205)

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Social dialogue on OSH in times of a pandemic

Employers and their organizations Workers and their organizations

 Collaborate with government to shape policy  Participate in decision-making and policy
measures that are conducive for business responses to epidemics
resilience and sustainability  Actively cooperate with employers in the
 Observe advice/guidance provided by public implementation of the preventive and protective
authorities measures.
 Communicate critical information to workers  Strictly follow the workplace hygiene practices and
 review or draw up a business continuity plan adopt a responsible behaviours
 Identify and mitigate risks of contagion to workers
 Promote workplace hygiene

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A particular role for OSH practitioners

 Facilitate access to reliable information

 Promote understanding of the disease and its symptoms

 Support in the risk assessment and management process (i.e. identification of infectious and non-infectious
hazards and assessment of associated risks; adoption of preventive and control measures; monitoring and
review)

 Help in development or update of plans for the prevention, containment, mitigation and recovery

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Thank you

www.ilo.org/safeday

World Day for Safety and Health at Work 28 April 2020