COVID-19: Occupational health and safety for health workers: interim guidance, 2 February 2021

Interim guidance

2 February 2021

| COVID-19: Schools, businesses and institutions

Overview

Health workers are at the front line of the COVID-19 outbreak response and as such are exposed to different hazards that put them at risk. Occupational hazards include exposure to SARS-CoV-2 and other pathogens, violence, harassment, stigma, discrimination, heavy workload and prolonged use of personal protective equipment (PPE). This document provides specific measures to protect occupational health and safety of health workers and highlights the duties, rights and responsibilities for health and safety at work in the context of COVID-19.

Note

This document is an update of the World Health Organization (WHO) interim guidance, Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak: rights, roles and responsibilities of health workers, including key considerations for occupational safety and health, from 18 March 2020.

WHO Team

Environment, Climate Change and Health, WHO Headquarters (HQ), WHO Worldwide

Editors

World Health Organization and International Labour Organization

Number of pages

Reference numbers

WHO Reference Number: WHO/2019-nCoV/HCW_advice/2021.1