The recent pandemic has underlined work's critical role in determining overall well-being, urging a consistent focus on worker health and safety as a public health priority.
Gregory R. Wagner and David Michaels write for American Journal of Public Health.
In short:
- The COVID-19 pandemic showcased the essential role of workers in maintaining community health, emphasizing the need for sustained attention to workplace health and safety.
- Despite the WHO's recognition of work as a determinant of health, workplace health and safety often remain sidelined in public health discussions.
- Efforts to bridge occupational safety and public health have faced challenges, pointing to a gap that needs closing for comprehensive worker and community well-being.
Key quote:
"We believe that wider implementation of the hierarchy of controls would have helped slow the workplace spread of the virus, saving many lives."
— Gregory R. Wagner, MD, and David Michaels, authors
Why this matters:
The pandemic narrative shifts from treating workers as heroes during crises to neglecting their ongoing significance, revealing a disconnect in our approach to public health and worker safety. Read more about the essential workers of the COVID-19 pandemic.
