Health workers are at the front line of any outbreak response and as such are exposed to hazards that put them
at risk of infection with an outbreak pathogen (in this case COVID-19). Hazards include pathogen exposure, long
working hours, psychological distress, fatigue, occupational burnout, stigma, and physical and psychological
violence. This document highlights the rights and responsibilities of health workers, including specific measures
needed to protect occupational safety and health.
Health worker rights include that employers and managers in health facilities:
• assume overall responsibility to ensure that all necessary preventive and protective measures are taken
to minimize occupational safety and health risks
• provide information, instruction and training on occupational safety and health, including;
Refresher training on infection prevention and control (IPC); and Use, putting on, taking off and disposal of personal protective equipment (PPE);
• provide adequate IPC and PPE supplies (masks, gloves, goggles, gowns, hand sanitizer, soap and water,
cleaning supplies) in sufficient quantity to healthcare or other staff caring for suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patients, such that workers do not incur expenses for occupational safety and health
requirements;
• familiarize personnel with technical updates on COVID-19 and provide appropriate tools to assess, triage,
test and treat patients and to share infection prevention and control information with patients and the
public;
• as needed, provide with appropriate security measures for personal safety;
• provide a blame-free environment for workers to report on incidents, such as exposures to blood or bodily
fluids from the respiratory system or to cases of violence, and to adopt measures for immediate followup, including support to victims;
• advise workers on self-assessment, symptom reporting and staying home when ill;
• maintain appropriate working hours with breaks;
• consult with health workers on occupational safety and health aspects of their work and notify the labour
inspectorate of cases of occupational diseases;
• not be required to return to a work situation where there is continuing or serious danger to life or health,
until the employer has taken any necessary remedial action;
• allow workers to exercise the right to remove themselves from a work situation that they have reasonable
justification to believe presents an imminent and serious danger to their life or health. When a health
worker exercises this right, they shall be protected from any undue consequences;
• honour the right to compensation, rehabilitation and curative services if infected with COVID-19 following
exposure in the workplace. This would be considered occupational exposure and resulting illness would
be considered an occupational disease,
• provide access to mental health and counselling resources; and
• enable co-operation between management and workers and/or their representatives.
Health workers should:
• follow established occupational safety and health procedures, avoid exposing others to health and safety
risks and participate in employer-provided occupational safety and health training;
• use provided protocols to assess, triage and treat patients;
• treat patients with respect, compassion and dignity;
• maintain patient confidentiality;
• swiftly follow established public health reporting procedures of suspect and confirmed cases;
• provide or reinforce accurate infection prevention and control and public health information, including to
concerned people who have neither symptoms nor risk;
• put on, use, take off and dispose of personal protective equipment properly;
• self-monitor for signs of illness and self-isolate or report illness to managers, if it occurs;
• advise management if they are experiencing signs of undue stress or mental health challenges that require
support interventions; and
• report to their immediate supervisor any situation which they have reasonable justification to believe
presents an imminent and serious danger to life or health.
What Students Are Saying About Us
.......... Customer ID: 12*** | Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐"Honestly, I was afraid to send my paper to you, but splendidwritings.com proved they are a trustworthy service. My essay was done in less than a day, and I received a brilliant piece. I didn’t even believe it was my essay at first 🙂 Great job, thank you!"
.......... Customer ID: 14***| Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"The company has some nice prices and good content. I ordered a term paper here and got a very good one. I'll keep ordering from this website."
