3. The COVID-19 pandemic:
a global challenge for safety and health at work
Workers and people in the world of work
have been at risk of infection
Some workplaces have become sources of
outbreaks of the virus
Certain work settings are at particular risk
(close contact between workers, poor
ventilation)
OSH risks in the workplace:
Risk of acquiring the novel coronavirus
Other risks that have emerged due to new
work practices and procedures (chemical,
ergonomic, psychosocial risks, violence
and harassment)
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Anticipate, prepare and respond to crises: Invest now in resilient OSH systems
4. The COVID-19 pandemic: a crisis for safety and health at work
Emergency and health care workers face higher OSH risks
4
Anticipate, prepare and respond to crises: Invest now in resilient OSH systems
5. International Labour Standards:
a key resource in responding to the COVID-19 crisis
Advancing social justice, promoting decent work
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International labour standards provide a tried-and-trusted foundation for policy
responses that focus on a recovery that is sustainable and equitable
Guy Ryder, ILO’s Director-General
Promotion of social dialogue and workplace cooperation
Guidance for safeguarding decent work in crisis responses and recovery
Protection of the health and safety of workers
6. Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health Convention,
2006 (No. 187) and Recommendation (No. 197)
Promotion of a national preventive safety and health culture
Establishment of a sound national OSH system
National OSH policy and regulatory frameworks (OSH laws and regulations, collective
agreements and other relevant instruments; Mechanisms for ensuring compliance)
National OSH institutional framework (OSH authority or body; National tripartite advisory body;
collaboration with relevant insurance or social security)
Occupational health services
Information, advisory services and training on OSH
Data collection and research on OSH
Promotion of OSH at the enterprise level (cooperation between management, workers and their
representatives; progressive improvement in MSMEs and informal economy)
Advancing social justice, promoting decent work
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8. Strengthening effective national OSH policies and regulatory frameworks
to better respond to crises and emergencies
Essential for the protection and
promotion of physical and mental
health at work
Contributes to resilient OSH
systems, preparing them to better
respond to crises in the future
Proactively adapts to new contexts
and allows for rapid and
appropriate emergency responses
A comprehensive and functional regulatory system
should include:
a basic and overarching OSH act covering all
workers and sectors, defining basic OSH rights and
responsibilities
laws and regulations, covering specific sectors or
hazards
codes of practice and technical standards, providing
specific guidance
collective bargaining agreements
Advancing social justice, promoting decent work
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9. Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 1981 (No. 155), and
Recommendation (No. 164)
Adoption of a coherent national OSH policy
Action to be taken both at the national and enterprise level to promote OSH and improve working
conditions
Basic rights and responsibilities for employers and workers in the field of OSH
Further requirements for the recording and notification of occupational accidents and diseases in
the Protocol of 2002 (No. 155)
Advancing social justice, promoting decent work
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10. Basic OSH rights and responsibilities
(as provided in Convention No. 155)
Employers
Ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable,
that the workplaces, machinery, equipment,
processes and agents are without risk to
health
Provide, where necessary, adequate PPE (at
no cost to the worker)
Provide, where necessary, for measures to
deal with emergencies and accidents
Ensure that workers and their representatives
are consulted, informed, and trained on OSH
Workers and their representatives
Receive adequate OSH information & training
Remove themselves from any situation which they have
reasonable justification to believe presents an
imminent and serious danger to their life or health
Be consulted and co-operate with the employer in the
field of OSH
Comply with OSH instructions and take care for their own
safety and that of others
Use safety devices and PPE correctly
Report any hazardous situation, work accident or injury
Advancing social justice, promoting decent work
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11. Occupational Health Services Convention, 1985 (No. 161) and
Recommendation (No. 171)
Establishment of enterprise-level occupational health services
entrusted with essentially preventive functions
responsible for advising the employer, the workers and their representatives in the enterprise
on maintaining a safe and healthy working environment
Critical role during health crises
Help employers and workers adopt adequate measures in the workplace
Support OSH management in health care facilities, ensuring the continuity of the emergency
response and essential health services
Advancing social justice, promoting decent work
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12. Recognition of occupational accidents and diseases
ILO standards provide grounds for the recognition of COVID-19 as occupational injury, but is
contingent upon each country’s national law to consider whether and how COVID-19 may be
treated as an occupational injury
Recognition for healthcare workers or emergency personnel, both under existing legislation (e.g.,
Turkey and Belgium ) or with new regulations (e.g., Colombia)
Recognition for other workers at higher risks, such as those in essential services (e.g. Argentina)
Recognition as an occupational injury for workers irrespective of their occupation (Italy, Spain,
Denmark)
Advancing social justice, promoting decent work
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13. New legal requirements to prevent the spread of the virus in the
workplace
Provisions for the identification and control of potential sources of exposure
Sector specific procedures and protocols to prevent and deal with COVID-19 in the workplace
physical distancing
working from home arrangements
responding to positive cases of COVID-19 in the workplace
personal protective equipment (PPE)
safe commuting to and from the workplace, etc.
Protection from unfair dismissal and provision for sick pay and benefits to ensure compliance with
quarantine requirements
Advancing social justice, promoting decent work
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14. G20 OSH Experts Network Survey:
Key Measures Adopted to Protect OSH of Workers during COVID-19
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Anticipate, prepare and respond to crises:
Invest now in resilient OSH systems
15. Adopting provisions to address associated OSH risks
To prevent and minimize other associated risks emerged due to new OSH measures, work
processes and arrangements (i.e. ergonomic, chemical, and psychosocial risks)
COVID-19 Management Guidelines (Malaysia) emphasized the need to conduct mental health
assessments for workers along with proper mitigation strategies
To address the increased risk of both physical and psychological violence and harassment
(particularly against health care workers)
The Algerian penal code was amended in July to provide protection for healthcare workers from
verbal and physical attacks, with penalties of 5 to 10 years prison time for offenders
Advancing social justice, promoting decent work
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16. Ensuring compliance with national laws and regulations:
the role of labour inspection during the COVID-19 crisis
Strong labour inspection system, covering all types of enterprises and all workers, is essential to
implement OSH regulations, identify cases of non-compliance, assist to rectify them, and prevent
new cases
Strategy to deal with emergencies
promote compliance with new OSH requirements adopted to respond to the crisis
maintain the enforcement of other regulations and ensure a continued response to other
persistent OSH risks
protect the safety and health of inspectors while performing their duties (including the risk of
contagion, the risk of violence and harassment that may increase during emergencies, etc.)
Advancing social justice, promoting decent work
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17. Intensification of labour inspection activity: some examples from around the
world
In Myanmar, workplaces were ordered to close and could only resume operations when
approved by a labour inspection team to ensure compliance with COVID-19 guidelines
Mexico expanded labour inspections to ensure work being performed onsite in enterprises was
deemed essential, verify compliance with COVID-19 prevention and control requirements and
monitor compliance with other OSH legal provisions
In Singapore, the entire inspection personnel was mobilized to inspect workplaces as well as
dormitories where workers are housed, with a focus on OSH issues related to COVID-19. In
addition, more than 100 officers were assigned to check on companies who did not implement
flexible work arrangements
Advancing social justice, promoting decent work
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18. Incentives for promoting compliance among employers
The COVID-19 crisis has been challenging for employers as they need to invest resources in
OSH (new measures to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission and to address other emerging
risks) while facing the economic effects of the pandemic on revenue
Economic incentives (tax incentives, insurance-related incentives, matching funds and non-
financial incentives, such as recognition and awards)
Strategy for motivating employers to invest in prevention work in OSH
Advancing social justice, promoting decent work
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In the Philippines, the government created a “COVID-19 Response Award” for employers
who successfully stopped the spread of the virus in their workplaces through OSH policies
and programs. The criteria for this award was drawn from the ILO Prevention and
Mitigation of COVID-19 at Work Action Checklist
20. An authority or body responsible for OSH
Key component of the OSH administration at the national level
Proactively involved in crisis response management at the national level
Provides leadership and acts as a trusted source during times of crises
Coordination
between the various institutions involved
between national and local levels
Advancing social justice, promoting decent work
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21. A national tripartite advisory body addressing OSH issues and the impact
of COVID-19
Common mechanism to ensure social partners’ participation in OSH governance (building
consensus through a tripartite approach allows for better implementation of measures)
Different roles and functions (from a consultative role to a decision-making role)
Participation in the OSH discussion at the national level, including the issuance of instructions or
guidance to mitigate the impact of the crisis
Advancing social justice, promoting decent work
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22. The Working Group on Industrial Relations within the Australian National
COVID-19 Coordination Commission
Established in April 2020 to support safe and healthy working environments during the pandemic
Brought together experts from health and labour along with employers and workers
representatives
Core focal points include Safe Work Australia, the Department of Health, the national Workplace
Relations, Employment and Safety team and the Fair Work Commission
Works in coordination with Safe Work Australia and local governments to develop guidelines for
safe workplaces in a range of industries, to ensure workers and employers are informed of health
and safety risks and to formulate safe working practices as new health issues arise
Advancing social justice, promoting decent work
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23. Collaboration with relevant insurance or social security schemes
covering occupational injuries and diseases
The COVID-19 pandemic highlights the need for collaboration between
the national OSH system, mainly aimed at promoting continuous improvement of OSH to
prevent occupational injuries, diseases and deaths
relevant insurance or social security schemes, managing accidents and diseases when they
occur
medical care, vocational rehabilitation, cash benefits and compensation to workers who are
injured on the job or who develop occupational diseases
survivors’ benefits for families of victims of occupational fatalities
Advancing social justice, promoting decent work
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25. Functions
Identification and assessment of OSH risks
Surveillance of the working environment and
working practices which may affect workers’
health
Advice on planning and organization of work
Participation in developing programmes for the
improvement of working practices
Advice on OSH, ergonomics and individual and
collective protective equipment
Surveillance of workers’ health
Promotion of the adaptation of work to the worker
Contribution to vocational rehabilitation
Collaboration in providing OSH information,
training and education
Organization of first aid and emergency treatment
Participation in analysis of occupational accidents
and occupational diseases
Advancing social justice, promoting decent work
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All these functions are essential to help employers mitigate the risk of contagion and other
associated risks during the COVID-19 pandemic
26. Monitoring of the working environment and risk assessment
Identification and evaluation of the environmental factors
which may affect workers’ health;
Assessment of conditions of occupational hygiene and factors
in the organization of work which may give rise to risks for the
health of workers;
Assessment of collective and personal protective equipment;
Assessment – where appropriate – of exposure of workers to
hazardous agents;
Assessment of control systems designed to eliminate or
reduce exposure.
This process provides
information on the OSH
needs of the enterprise and
indicates priorities for
prevention and control
actions
Advancing social justice, promoting decent work
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27. Surveillance of workers’ health and provision of first aid services
Assess the fitness of a worker to carry out certain jobs
Identify any health impairments which may be related to the exposure to harmful agents inherent
in the work process
Identify cases of occupational diseases in accordance with national legislation
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Occupational Health Services have often been responsible for
tracking confirmed and suspected cases
tracing any potential contagion, instructing workers to quarantine
notifying public health and social security authorities, among other functions
Advancing social justice, promoting decent work
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28. Occupational Health Services in the United Arab Emirates
They provide a comprehensive surveillance system during the pandemic, while efficiently
monitoring the status of the entire workforce to aid management
ongoing health monitoring
testing
telehealth consultations
quarantine timelines
Advancing social justice, promoting decent work
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29. Adaptation of work to the workers and protection of vulnerable groups
Identification of vulnerable groups of workers
Consideration of the worker’s state of health and all other known risk factors (in the case of
COVID-19 these include age, ethnicity, body mass index)
Due to the nature of their jobs, some groups such as migrant workers, contract workers and
day labours, for example, may face unique risks
Recommendations to facilitate the adaptation of work to the workers
Selection of a job that minimizes adverse effects
Provision of special equipment or protective devices
Adoption of specific work arrangements (e.g., compulsory telework)
Prescription of sick leave
Advancing social justice, promoting decent work
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30. The advisory role
Advise TO
Employers
Enterprise management
Workers and their
representatives
OSH committees
(both in their collective and
individual capacities)
Advice ON
Risk assessment
Preventive and control measures
Modifications in work processes and procedures
Return to work following accidents or diseases (including
COVID-19)
Educational and training activities
Individual health in relation to work (personal advice)
Advancing social justice, promoting decent work
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31. Provision of general preventive and curative health services
The ILO Occupational Health Services Recommendation (No. 171) promotes the provision of
curative and general health care services as functions of Occupational Health Services, including
carry out immunizations in respect to biological hazards in the working environment
take part in campaigns aimed at the protection of workers’ health
collaborate with the health authorities within the framework of public health programmes
This function can be particularly critical for hard to reach areas and populations and during
emergencies, where many public health entities are under pressure
Advancing social justice, promoting decent work
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32. Collaboration with external services
with the public health system of the country as a whole as well as institutions and facilities in
local communities, in order to facilitate coordination with specialized health services for
appropriate treatment of occupational injuries and diseases
with emergency response organizations and first aid providers such as ambulance services,
hospital outpatient and emergency clinics, poison control centres, police and fire brigades and
civic rescue organizations to ensure the expeditious treatment of acute injuries and assist in
planning for and responding to major emergencies
with social security and health insurance institutions to facilitate the administration of benefits
and functioning of the workers’ compensation system
Advancing social justice, promoting decent work
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34. Information and advisory services on OSH
Prerequisites to functional OSH systems
Provide vital, up-to-date information to workers, their representatives and employers during
routine work and emergency scenarios, including about both existing and newly introduced OSH
requirements
OSH national authorities and bodies have played a leading role in the dissemination of
information on COVID-19, creating ad hoc sites and producing materials for different sectors that
are easily reproducible for distribution to workers or posting in workplaces
Social Partners have also been very active in collaborating with governments and supporting
their members to take action in the workplace for preventing and mitigating the spread of COVID-
19
Workers’ representatives are uniquely positioned to contribute to facilitating communication with
workers about emerging risks and how they affect them
Advancing social justice, promoting decent work
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35. Awareness-raising campaigns
Important for promoting OSH on key topics, particularly in crisis situations
Effective means of disseminating essential information and for sensitizing workers, employers
and communities about OSH rights and responsibilities
During the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been campaigns to raise awareness on different
topics, for example:
the risk of transmission of the virus among essential workers
increases in violence and harassment
Advancing social justice, promoting decent work
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36. Awareness raising campaigns for OSH in coffee value chains in Mexico
The ILO Vision Zero Fund and the National Federation of Coffee Growers in Mexico produced a range of
audiovisual resources as part of a campaign
The aim of the project was to raise awareness amongst workers of safety and health at work in coffee value
chains during COVID-19
The campaign included a radionovela (radio soap opera), with 10 installments on a range of OSH topics
including mitigating the risk of COVID-19 during harvest time
A series of videos was also created, discussing COVID-19 prevention in agriculture, as well as cleaning
disinfection and other mitigation measures
Advancing social justice, promoting decent work
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37. Provision of training on OSH
Amendment of OSH training plans to cover
new hazards and risks emerged during the crisis
how to apply and follow new measures and procedures adopted
Sector specific approaches
Advancing social justice, promoting decent work
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In South Africa, the government required that all workers complete a training on COVID-19 and
OSH before returning to work
In Ireland, the HSA created a “Return to Work Safely Induction” online course, which workers are
required to take before returning to work
In Singapore, the Building and Construction Authority created a compulsory online COVID-Safe
training for workers in the construction sector focusing on the risks specific to these workers
39. Building a comprehensive and effective system for gathering and
analysing OSH data and information
Essential for developing informed policies, laws and regulations, strategies and other measures
on OSH, including responding to crisis situations
Should include:
Mechanisms and structures for recording and notification of occupational accidents and
diseases
Complementary mechanisms to collect other OSH data and statistics
Research capacity to identify new and emerging risks and new preventive techniques for
addressing them
Advancing social justice, promoting decent work
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40. Notification of occupational injuries and diseases
In most countries, recording and notification of occupational accidents and diseases is an
obligation of enterprises
In countries where COVID-19 has been recognized as an occupational injury (accident or
disease), it must be notified, as for all other cases
An efficient recording and notification system is important and useful in emergency situations to
allow collection of accurate data and to quickly identify clusters of cases
To promote compliance with notification requirements, the competent authorities, in collaboration
with social partners, need to educate employers and workers about their responsibilities
In Northern Ireland (United Kingdom) the Health and Safety Executive provides a list of criteria
to guide employers concerning when a COVID-19 case or dangerous occurrence must be
reported to the government.
Advancing social justice, promoting decent work
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41. Gathering other OSH data and information in times of crisis
Labour inspection statistics can provide data on occupational accidents and occupational
diseases, compliance and other OSH related issues
Surveys and studies, both general and by sector, can be carried out on critical aspects of the
organization and implementation of prevention measures in enterprises
Surveys can be performed by social partners, collecting data about their members
perceptions and experiences.
A global survey by the trade union UNI examined COVID-19 responses and experiences of
trade unions around the world, with over 60% of workers who responded noting that they were
impacted by shortages of PPE and disinfectants.
The International Organization of Employers (IOE) produced a joint survey with the ILO looking
at challenges, impacts and responses of enterprises to COVID-19, including OSH responses
Advancing social justice, promoting decent work
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42. Research on OSH and COVID-19
Necessary to better ascertain the realities of OSH situations
Very relevant for the development and updating of regulations, particularly to
identify the specific risks in a certain sector or industry (including both exposure to the virus
and other associated risks) and effective solutions to mitigate or eliminate them
gain deeper knowledge of the situation of particular groups of workers that are presumed to
be exposed to special or unusually severe risks
identify and assess short and long term health consequences (including those resulting from
other related risks and working situations)
assess compliance and ascertain how effective legal provisions are by sector, region and type
of enterprise with the aim of increasing adherence of duty holders
Advancing social justice, promoting decent work
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44. Emergency prevention, preparedness and response
A sound OSH management system should include the establishment and maintenance of
emergency prevention, preparedness and response arrangements
identify the potential for emergency situations and address the OSH risks associated with them
made to the size and nature of activity of the enterprise
ensure that the necessary information, communication and coordination are provided to protect all people
in the event of an emergency at the worksite
provide information and communication with the relevant competent authorities, the neighbourhood and
emergency response services;
address first-aid and medical assistance, fire-fighting and evacuation
provide relevant information and training to all members of the enterprise
be established in cooperation with external emergency services and other bodies
Advancing social justice, promoting decent work
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45. Promoting cooperation between management, workers and
representatives in the workplace
Workers’ participation is a key element of the OSH management system in the workplace
Particularly relevant during emergencies (with new/increased hazards and risks, high uncertainty,
rapid change)
Involving workers and giving them a sense of ownership in the response help ensuring the
implementation of sustainable and appropriate solutions
The employer should ensure:
Consultation, information and training for workers and their representatives on all aspects of
OSH, including emergency arrangements associated with their work.
Ensure co-operation between management and workers when working from home (maintaining
regular communication)
Advancing social justice, promoting decent work
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46. Hazard identification and risk assessment
Identify all occupational hazards and assess
the associated risks assessed on an on-
going basis
Exposure to the virus
Exposure to other hazards (biological,
chemical, physical, psychosocial – including
violence and harassment)
Consider the work environment, the tasks
and the measures already available
Consider the entire working day, including
access to common areas such as
dormitories, transportation, cafeterias,
sanitary facilities or areas of circulation
Carried out before any modifications/
introduction of new work methods/
processes/equipment
Address all workers, as well as suppliers,
clients and visitors
Take into account workers’ individual
characteristics
Older adults and people with serious underlying
medical conditions (higher risk for severe illness
from COVID-19)
Workers with disabilities and migrant workers
(increased risk to contract COVID-19 at work)
Advancing social justice, promoting decent work
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47. Adoption of OSH measures to prevent COVID-19 transmission in the
workplace
Based on thorough OSH risk assessments
Follow the hierarchy of controls
Adapted to the hazards and risks encountered by the enterprise
Reviewed and modified if necessary on a regular basis
Comply with national laws and regulations
Reflect good practice
Consider the current state of knowledge
Advancing social justice, promoting decent work
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48. Addressing psychosocial risks during the COVID-19 pandemic
Anxiety produced by the health risks of the coronavirus, uncertainty about how long the crisis will
last, the worry of possibly losing their jobs or being forced to close businesses, etc.
Psychosocial hazards arising from radical changes in work organization, processes, and
conditions (including telework)
For example: isolation, changes in workload and work pace, overlapping of professional and
family duties, violence and harassment, etc.
Advancing social justice, promoting decent work
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49. Support mechanisms for progressive improvement of OSH conditions in
MSMEs and the informal economy
Particularly affected by the effects of the pandemic
Lack the resources to invest in OSH
Many workers in these sectors are already at higher risk for accidents or diseases in the
workplace
Need for special initiatives, for example
Strengthening partnerships with social partners and other strategic actors (e.g., public health
care systems, social security institutions, NGOs, education institutions, etc.)
Promoting mentorship by large companies and developing networks of MSMEs
Advancing social justice, promoting decent work
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50. Incentives for promoting compliance among employers
The COVID-19 crisis has been challenging for employers as they need to invest resources in
OSH (new measures to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission and to address other emerging
risks) while facing the economic effects of the pandemic on revenue
Economic incentives (tax incentives, insurance-related incentives, matching funds and non-
financial incentives, such as recognition and awards)
Strategy for motivating employers to invest in prevention work in OSH
In the Philippines, the government created a “COVID-19 Response Award” for employers who
successfully stopped the spread of the virus in their workplaces through OSH policies and
programs. The criteria for this award was drawn from the ILO Prevention and Mitigation of
COVID-19 at Work Action Checklist
50
Anticipate, prepare and respond to crises: Invest now in resilient OSH systems
52. Recent crises (explosion in Beirut, natural disasters, public health threats) have all tested
the strength of crisis response systems
Investing to strengthen OSH systems will aid governments, employers and workers in
responding to the current pandemic
safeguarding health in the workplace
recovering faster by avoiding further contagion
Building up these resilient systems will also provide a foundation to respond to other
unforeseen events and crises that may occur in the future
Advancing social justice, promoting decent work
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53. ILO tools to protect workers’ safety
and health during COVID-19 crisis
Prevention and Mitigation of COVID-19 at Work: Action checklist (April 2020)
In the face of a pandemic: Ensuring Safety and Health at Work – World Day for Safety and Health at
Work Report (April 2020)
A safe and healthy return to work during the COVID-19 pandemic – Policy Brief (May 2020)
A Safe Return to Work: Ten Action Points (May 2020)
Managing work-related psychosocial risks during the COVID-19 pandemic – Guide (June 2020)
Practical Guide on Teleworking during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond (July 2020)
COVID-19 and health facilities: Checklist of measures to be taken in health facilities (July 2020)
Hand hygiene at the workplace: an essential occupational safety and health prevention and control
measure against COVID-19 – Briefing Note (September 2020)
Prevention and mitigation of COVID-19 at work for small and medium-sized enterprises: Action Checklist
(August 2020)
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Anticipate, prepare and respond to crises: Invest now in resilient OSH systems
