WITH Jamaicans now a second week into a phased return to the workplace after a two-month work-from-home order expired, one occupational safety and health (OSH) specialist says the time for a workplace safety game changer is now.

According to Dr Norbert Campbell, lecturer in the Department of Community Health and Psychiatry at The University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, while the novel coronavirus is a biological hazard, there are also related occupational hazards.

Speaking at a recent forum put on by the Faculty of Science and Technology, Dr Campbell said the pandemic presents an opportunity to recognise the importance of occupational safety and health issues, arguing that individuals are not sufficiently aware of their significance.

Data from the International Labour Organization (ILO) said in 2019 that there were an estimated 2.3 million deaths per year due to occupational injuries and diseases worldwide. According to the ILO, there is severe under and non-reporting of these incidents by many developing countries. It is also estimated by the ILO that about four per cent of global gross domestic product is consumed by occupational injuries and diseases — estimated at over US$3 trillion in cost.

Addressing the issue of occupational injuries, Dr Campbell said “ergonomic problems have become an increasing one for health care workers” since the onset of COVID-19.

“Those persons who have to lift patients in awkward positions, that is a major hazard; and with shortage of staff due to exposure and illness among those persons, it compounds the problem. When you think of the psychosocial issues related to the COVID-19 experience — we talk about stigma, some persons are being abused because they have contracted the disease, some persons are in isolation, those who are working from home — so you find there are many issues,” he stressed.

For women, he said, the workload has increased.