COVID‐19 as an occupational disease

Abstract

The impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 permeates all aspects of society worldwide. Initial medical reports and media coverage have increased awareness of the risk imposed on healthcare workers in particular, during this pandemic. However, the health implications of COVID‐19 for the global workforce are multifaceted and complex, warranting careful reflection and consideration to mitigate the adverse effects on workers worldwide. Accordingly, our review offers a framework for considering this topic, highlighting key issues, with the aim to prompt and inform action, including research, to minimize the occupational hazards imposed by this ongoing challenge. We address respiratory disease as a primary concern, while recognizing the multisystem spectrum of COVID‐19‐related disease and how clinical aspects are interwoven with broader socioeconomic forces.

COVID-19 caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus as an occupational disease of medical professionals

“…Zgodnie ze stanowiskiem Ministra Zdrowia brak jest w związku z tym podstawy do zmiany przepisów, ponieważ w świetle obecnie obowiązujących norm COVID-19 jest chorobą zakaźną, co oznacza, że stwierdzenie wystąpienia choroby zawodowej będzie odbywało się na zasadach ogólnych -takich jak w przypadku innych chorób zakaźnych. W literaturze anglojęzycznej również uznaje się COVID-19 za chorobę zawodową [36].…”

COVID-19 infection across workplace settings in Qatar: a comparison of COVID-19 positivity rates of screened workers from March 1st until July 31st, 2020

“…The study will also estimate how occupational risks of exposure to COVID-19 vary across sociodemographic characteristics. Indeed, the pandemic has revealed that the occupational factor of risk of exposure to COVID-19 is strongly associated with educational and socioeconomic status, which can contribute to higher rates of infection [ 17 ].…”

Potential environmental transmission routes of SARS-CoV-2 inside a large meat processing plant experiencing COVID-19 clusters

“…Clusters of human SARS-CoV-2 infections (COVID- 19) have been observed worldwide in a variety of private, public and occupational settings. Not only workers in healthcare but also workers in other essential services/industries like the food producing industry face an increased risk 1 . Exceptionally many SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks were reported in meat processing plants across Europe, Australia and the Americas [1][2][3][4][5] .…”

“…high density of workers, enhanced breathing and yelling due to the physically intense work and noisy environment), societal and/or economic factors (e.g. migrant workers sharing housing and transportation), and the climate conditions inside the production rooms [1][2][3]6 . The low temperature, which is in place to ensure food safety, combined with presence of air recirculation systems to reduce energy use, are suggested to be advantageous for persistence and circulation of SARS-CoV-2 in air.…”