Let’s get back to work: Preventive biological cycle management of COVID-19 in the workplace

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The primary response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has been to minimize social contact through lockdown measures. The closure of non-essential businesses to tackle the spread of the coronavirus has had negative consequences for the global economy, production, and employment. OBJECTIVE: To outline how known occupational health principles can be used for preventative management of the coronavirus in workplaces to support resumption of work. METHODS: A discussion of current knowledge of COVID-19, the cost of the lockdown strategy, and preventative biological cycle management. RESULTS: The evidence-based literature indicates that biological cycle management can control the risk of coronavirus infection, provide a suitable and sufficient exit strategy from lockdown, and support getting employees back to work. Adherence to personal protective equipment standards has been insufficient, indicating a need for workplace investment and education. CONCLUSION: Imposed restrictions on workplace operations can be lifted without compromising worker health and safety when a workplace commits to practicing the three principles of biological cycle management.

Moderating effect of OHS actions based on WHO recommendations to mitigate the effects of COVID-19 in multinational companies

“… Garzillo et al, (2020) and O'Neill (2020) also agree that assessing biological risks is a challenge. Jahangiri et al, (2020) corroborate that the management of the biological cycle can control the risk of coronavirus infection and provide a good strategy to support the return of employees to work, including to training for the use of personal protective equipment ( Gharibi et al, 2020 ).…”

“… Dufour et al, (2020) ; Gharibi et al, (2020) ; Gallardo et al, (2020) discussed the adoption of OHS in companies to face COVID-19, since the economic consequences of lockdowns generate intolerable and irretrievable damage, causing marketing and behavioral problems for employees. Jahangiri et al, (2020) added that closing of non-essential businesses to confront COVID-19 had negative consequences for the global economy, production, and employment. Michaels and Wagner (2020) found that American companies face a massive worker safety crisis, affecting operational productivity.…”

“…Other work indicated that some factories have suspended their activities due to the pandemic of COVID-19 (ICC-6). Garzillo et al, (2020) and Jahangiri et al, (2020) found that restrictions and forced closing of work activities represent significant economic losses (reduced productivity and increased costs) across the country. Giorgi et al, (2020) complemented that the pandemic harmed the mental health of citizens and workers and negatively affected productivity due to stress and loss of concentration.…”

“…Also, there are many possibilities that OHS actions contribute to mitigating negative consequences and, thus, facilitate safe transitions to a post-corona era ( Godderis and Luyten, 2020 ) either through information, education and communication to workers about the biological risks of COVID-19 ( Ndiaye and Diatta, 2020 , Sarbadhikari and Pradhan, 2020 ) or through the adoption of OSHA to reverse the spread of COVID-19 and reduce risk to workers ( Michaels and Wagner, 2020 ). Consequently, industry managers had to deal with biological hazards in the workplace ( Jahangiri et al, 2020 , Parker, 2020 ), which leads to hypothesis 2:…”

“…Generating severe acute respiratory syndrome ( Zuin et al, 2021 , Mandal et al, 2021 ), the virus negatively affects the world economy ( Parker, 2020 ). As a result, negative effects have infiltrated industries, including low operational performance in terms of productivity ( Jahangiri et al, 2020 , Sönmez et al, 2020 ), quality ( Dufour et al, 2020 ) and costs ( Godderis and Luyten, 2020 ); reduced logistical performance ( Garzillo et al, 2020 ); losses in market performance, reducing sales ( Gallardo et al, 2020 , Godderis and Luyten, 2020 )…”