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Mei Y, Guo X, Chen Z, Chen Y. An Effective Mechanism for the Early Detection and Containment of Healthcare Worker Infections in the Setting of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review and Meta-Synthesis. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19105943. [PMID: 35627479 PMCID: PMC9141359 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19105943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed healthcare workers (HCWs) to serious infection risks. In this context, the proactive monitoring of HCWs is the first step toward reducing intrahospital transmissions and safeguarding the HCW population, as well as reflecting the preparedness and response of the healthcare system. As such, this study systematically reviewed the literature on evidence-based effective monitoring measures for HCWs during the COVID-19 pandemic. This was followed by a meta-synthesis to compile the key findings, thus, providing a clearer overall understanding of the subject. Effective monitoring measures of syndromic surveillance, testing, contact tracing, and exposure management are distilled and further integrated to create a whole-process monitoring workflow framework. Taken together, a mechanism for the early detection and containment of HCW infections is, thus, constituted, providing a composite set of practical recommendations to healthcare facility leadership and policy makers to reduce nosocomial transmission rates while maintaining adequate staff for medical services. In this regard, our study paves the way for future studies aimed at strengthening surveillance capacities and upgrading public health system resilience, in order to respond more efficiently to future pandemic threats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yueli Mei
- School of Political Science and Public Administration, East China University of Political Science and Law, Shanghai 201620, China; (Y.M.); (X.G.); (Z.C.)
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University-Yale University Joint Center for Health Policy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, China
| | - Xiuyun Guo
- School of Political Science and Public Administration, East China University of Political Science and Law, Shanghai 201620, China; (Y.M.); (X.G.); (Z.C.)
| | - Zhihao Chen
- School of Political Science and Public Administration, East China University of Political Science and Law, Shanghai 201620, China; (Y.M.); (X.G.); (Z.C.)
| | - Yingzhi Chen
- School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200025, China
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-135-649-90786
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Nnaji C, Jin Z, Karakhan A. Safety and health management response to COVID-19 in the construction industry: A perspective of fieldworkers. PROCESS SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION : TRANSACTIONS OF THE INSTITUTION OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERS, PART B 2022; 159:477-488. [PMID: 35068710 PMCID: PMC8766253 DOI: 10.1016/j.psep.2022.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Revised: 12/28/2021] [Accepted: 01/02/2022] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 outbreak has significantly impacted the construction industry. The pandemic can exacerbate an already dire safety and health situation in the industry and negatively impact construction employees and employers. The present study investigates the safety and health measures implemented by construction firms in the United States (US), their effectiveness and usefulness, and workers' satisfaction with these COVID-19 measures. A questionnaire survey was developed and distributed to construction fieldworkers in the US to collect their perspectives on the implemented COVID-19 measures in the construction industry. A total of 187 valid responses were received and analyzed to achieve the aim of the study. Results revealed that strategies implemented to increase social distance and minimize group gathering to 10 persons in certain workstations were perceived to be substantially more effective than job-site screening strategies. Furthermore, smaller contractors implemented fewer safety measures and perceived them to be significantly less effective than those used by medium- and large-sized contractors. Fieldworkers were favorably disposed toward using technologies, such as video-conferencing apps and wearable sensing devices, to slow the spread of COVID-19 on construction job sites. The present study contributes to the body of knowledge by identifying safety and health measures to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in construction. Practically, the study findings provide valuable insights to inform the successful implementation of safety strategies in the construction industry during a pandemic. The results are crucial for industry practitioners responsible for developing and revising pre- and post-pandemic safety and health plans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chukwuma Nnaji
- Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering, The University of Alabama, 3043 HM Comer, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, USA
| | - Ziyu Jin
- Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering, University of New Mexico, Centennial Engineering Center Room 3052, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
| | - Ali Karakhan
- Department of Reconstruction & Projects, University of Baghdad, Al-Jadriya, Baghdad, Iraq
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Oliveira Neto GCD, Tucci HNP, Godinho Filho M, Lucato WC, da Silva D. Moderating effect of OHS actions based on WHO recommendations to mitigate the effects of COVID-19 in multinational companies. PROCESS SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION : TRANSACTIONS OF THE INSTITUTION OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERS, PART B 2022; 159:652-661. [PMID: 35035117 PMCID: PMC8744406 DOI: 10.1016/j.psep.2022.01.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Revised: 12/30/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
The objective of this study was to evaluate the moderating effect of Occupational Health and Safety actions based on the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations to mitigate the negative effect of COVID-19 on the operational, logistical, marketing (OLMP), and health and safety performance (OHSP) of workers in multinational industries. The development of surveys in companies was the method adopted, which had confirmatory evaluations through Structural Equations Modelling (SEM). As a result, it was confirmed that this is one of the few scientific studies that expectedly validates that the COVID-19 pandemic has severely impacted operational, logistical, market, and Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) performance. This is also one of the few research projects to assess the moderating effect of OHS practices based on WHO to mitigate the effects of COVID-19. According to our findings, those practices were able to reduce by at least 50% the effect of the COVID-19 crisis on operational, logistical, and marketing performance. However, they minimize by only 1.8% the negative effects of health and safety performance for the worker, generating absenteeism increasingly due to physical and mental problems. This number could be higher if the social distance could be provided in public transportation and if employees were more aware of the risks of COVID-19 contamination during their social activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geraldo Cardoso de Oliveira Neto
- Industrial Engineering Post-Graduation Program, Universidade Nove de Julho (UNINOVE), Vergueiro Street, 235/249 - 12 Floor, zip code: 01504-001 Liberdade, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Henrricco Nieves Pujol Tucci
- Industrial Engineering Post-Graduation Program, Universidade Nove de Julho (UNINOVE), Vergueiro Street, 235/249 - 12 Floor, zip code: 01504-001 Liberdade, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Moacir Godinho Filho
- Production Engineering Program, Federal University of São Carlos. Production Engineering Program, Federal University of São Carlos, Via Washington Luis, Km 235 Monjolinho, zip code: 13565-905 Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Wagner Cezar Lucato
- Industrial Engineering Post-Graduation Program, Universidade Nove de Julho (UNINOVE), Vergueiro Street, 235/249 - 12 Floor, zip code: 01504-001 Liberdade, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Dirceu da Silva
- Department of Cultural Practices of the University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Av. Bertrand Russell, 801, Cidade Universitária, Campinas, CEP: 13083-865 São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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Oliveira Neto GCD, Tucci HNP, Godinho Filho M, Lucato WC, Correia JMF. Performance evaluation of occupational health and safety in relation to the COVID-19 fighting practices established by WHO: Survey in multinational industries. SAFETY SCIENCE 2021; 141:105331. [PMID: 36569417 PMCID: PMC9761547 DOI: 10.1016/j.ssci.2021.105331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2021] [Accepted: 04/29/2021] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
The coronavirus pandemic meant that companies had to adapt quickly to survive the challenging scenario and avoid losing market share or even going bankrupt. In this sense, employees dedicated to Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) activities within organizations played a key role in ensuring that the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO) were properly implemented. Even so, no studies were identified in the literature that investigated how the practices to combat COVID-19 improved the performance related to employee safety and occupational health. This is what motivates the accomplishment of this work; evaluate how these practices improve safety and health-related performance. For this, a survey of multinational companies was carried out and, together with this research, a model for structural equations was developed. In the end, a correlation test was performed. The main results showed that practices to combat COVID-19, such as the provision of sanitizers, the adoption of social distance, the creation of new work shifts, and the disinfection of workplaces were related to improvements in safety and health performance through the implementation of a risk management and biological risk mitigation program. Meanwhile, the provision of emergency assistance has found stronger relationships with managerial and strategic actions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geraldo Cardoso de Oliveira Neto
- Industrial Engineering Post-Graduation Program, Universidade Nove de Julho (UNINOVE), Vergueiro Street, 235/249 - 12 Floor, zip code: 01504-001, Liberdade, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Henrricco Nieves Pujol Tucci
- Industrial Engineering Post-Graduation Program, Universidade Nove de Julho (UNINOVE), Vergueiro Street, 235/249 - 12 Floor, zip code: 01504-001, Liberdade, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Moacir Godinho Filho
- Production Engineering Program, Federal University of São Carlos. Production Engineering Program, Federal University of São Carlos, Via Washington Luis, Km 235 - Monjolinho, zip code: 13565-905, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Wagner Cezar Lucato
- Industrial Engineering Post-Graduation Program, Universidade Nove de Julho (UNINOVE), Vergueiro Street, 235/249 - 12 Floor, zip code: 01504-001, Liberdade, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - José Manuel Ferreira Correia
- Industrial Engineering Post-Graduation Program, Universidade Nove de Julho (UNINOVE), Vergueiro Street, 235/249 - 12 Floor, zip code: 01504-001, Liberdade, Sao Paulo, Brazil
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