Lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic—what Occupational Safety and Health can bring to Public Health

Abstract

We strive to increase public (PH) and occupational health (OSH) inter-linkages by building a collaborative framework. Besides Covid-19 pandemic, recent approaches such as Human Exposome and Total Worker Health TM, have led to a shift to improving health of working population and consequently the total population. These health objectives can be best realised through primary care actors in specific contexts. Work, school, home and leisure are the four multi-stakeholder contexts in which health and healthcare (goal-oriented care) objectives needs to be set and defined. PH policy makers need to establish a shared decision-making process involving employees, employers and OSH representatives to set PH goals and align with OSH goals. The policy making process in OSH can serve as a potential way forward, as the decisions and policies are being decided centrally in consultation with social partners and governments. This process can then be mirrored on company level to adopt and implement.

Experiences of health professionals in EU institutions during the Covid crisis

“…During the crisis, this collaboration consistently proved useful and helpful; it made it possible to better harmonise the decisions of the European institutions as employers, scattered across various Member States, with the decisions of local health authorities. This strengthens links between public health and occupational health, achieving better synergies and outcomes [ 43 ].…”

COVID‐19 and the chemical industry: impacts, challenges, and opportunities

“…By assimilating them into their strategies and operations, chemical companies can emerge as more resilient, sustainable, and socially responsible entities. [96][97][98][99][100][101] Future preparedness requires a proactive and adaptive mindset, a commitment to embracing new technologies, and a willingness to collaborate across sectors and borders. Armed with these valuable lessons, the chemical industry can navigate future uncertainties with greater confidence and make significant contributions to global recovery and progress.…”

“…These lessons along with their associated benefits in the chemical industry are summarized in Table 8. By assimilating them into their strategies and operations, chemical companies can emerge as more resilient, sustainable, and socially responsible entities 96‐101 . Future preparedness requires a proactive and adaptive mindset, a commitment to embracing new technologies, and a willingness to collaborate across sectors and borders.…”

Preparing the occupational safety and health workforce for future disruptions

“…During the COVID‐19 pandemic, many OSH professionals saw their roles expand in unanticipated ways to include responsibilities for maintaining business continuities, enhancing organization and individual resilience, assessing and controlling emerging and novel risks, disseminating trustworthy information, and determining how to manage mental health issues in the workplace 14 . In addition, it has been argued that the underrepresentation of OSH perspectives in other public health systems led to reductions in the efficacy of control and assessment efforts early in the pandemic response 15 . Developing OSH plans for the future that effectively address such lessons learned from the COVID‐19 pandemic and other disruptive events from recent years may enhance OSH readiness for future pandemics and disruptions when they arrive.…”