A day to think of the safety of our workers

TODAY, April 28, is recognised annually by the International Labour Organisation(ILO) as the World Day for Safety and Health at Work. The theme for 2020 is “Stop the pandemic: Safety and health at work can save lives”.

Today is the day for us to reflect on this unprecedented pandemic and lockdowns of various forms implemented globally. The health and economic impacts from lockdowns are enormous. Frontliners like healthcare workers face immense challenges working under severe constraints. ILO director- general Guy Rydee aptly said: “We need special measures to protect the millions of healthcare workers and other workers who risk their own health for us every day.”

Many healthcare workers have been working extended hours stretching often into weekends and public holidays. It is imperative they are able to carry out their tasks in a healthy and safe environment. They need support to manage emotional pressure and work overload while balancing other responsibilities like caring for their own families and, of course, themselves.

A lesson learnt from this pandemic is that no country in the world – whether developed, developing or not developed – has the healthcare infrastructure and systems to handle this pandemic adequately. For instance, the world was clearly unprepared for the lack of enough personal protection equipment (PPE), including masks, for healthcare workers, especially during the initial phase of the pandemic.

Due to the global shortage, many countries find it impossible to provide the required PPE to all healthcare workers, instead providing it to the frontliners handling high risk patients. This strategy leads to inequities in infection risk among members of the healthcare sector, the results of which are already being observed in hospitals.

All healthcare workers also need to be cognisant of wearing the correct and quality-controlled PPE. The manner of donning and doffing it is of utmost importance. More harm may arise from improper usage and may create a false sense of security.

Moving forward, it is vital to train more occupational physicians to helm the occupational medicine clinics at hospitals.

Modern working environments and conditions, especially in healthcare facilities, face an array of biological, physical, chemical, ergonomic and psychosocial hazards. These hazards have given rise to many health concerns for the working population. Occupational physicians can play a vital role in safeguarding the health and safety of employees during disease outbreaks or pandemics.

PROF DR JAYAKUMAR GURUSAMY , professor of Community and Occupational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Melaka Manipal Medical College