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Biological risk assessment: a challenge for occupational safety and health practitioners during the COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic

2021-05-26Journal article Open access
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dc.contributor.authorCarvalhais, Carlos
dc.contributor.authorQuerido, Micaela
dc.contributor.authorPereira, Cristiana C.
dc.contributor.authorSantos, Joana
dc.date.accessioned2022-07-06T14:54:08Z
dc.date.available2022-07-06T14:54:08Z
dc.date.issued2021-05-26
dc.description.abstractBackground: The COVID-19 global pandemic brought several challenges to occupational safety and health practice. One of these is the need to (re)assess the occupational risks, particularly, biological risks. Objective: The purpose of this work is to promote guidance to occupational safety and health practitioners when conducting a biological risk assessment in this context. Methods: The main steps of the biological risk assessment are explained with some inputs regarding the novelty posed by SARS-CoV-2 and an example of a qualitative risk assessment method is presented. Also, its application to two different activities was exemplified. Results: In both cases, the assessment considered that vulnerable workers were working from home or in medical leave. The results showed low or medium risk level for the assessed tasks. For medium risk level, additional controls are advised, such maintain social distancing, sanitize instruments/equipment before use, use proper and well-maintained PPE (when applicable), and promote awareness sessions to spread good practices at work. Employers must be aware of their obligations regarding biological risk assessment and OSH practitioners must be prepared to screen and link the abundance of scientific evidence generated following the outbreak, with the technical practice. Conclusions: This paper could be an important contribution to OSH practice since it highlights the need to (re)assess occupational risks, especially biological risk, to ensure a safe return to work, providing technical guidance.pt_PT
dc.description.sponsorshipThe authors acknowledge the funding provided by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) through the scholarship SFRH/ BD/130203/2017.pt_PT
dc.description.versioninfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersionpt_PT
dc.identifier.citationWork. 2021 May 26;69(1):3-13. doi: 10.3233/WOR-205302pt_PT
dc.identifier.doi10.3233/WOR-205302pt_PT
dc.identifier.issn1051-9815
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10400.18/8069
dc.language.isoengpt_PT
dc.peerreviewedyespt_PT
dc.publisherIOS Presspt_PT
dc.relationDesinFAST-Self-Disinfecting Paint for Infection Control in Public Spaces
dc.relation.publisherversionhttps://content.iospress.com/articles/work/wor205302pt_PT
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/pt_PT
dc.subjectBiological Riskpt_PT
dc.subjectCOVID-19pt_PT
dc.subjectRisk Assessmentpt_PT
dc.subjectOSH Practicept_PT
dc.subjectAr e Saúde Ocupacionalpt_PT
dc.titleBiological risk assessment: a challenge for occupational safety and health practitioners during the COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemicpt_PT
dc.typejournal article
dspace.entity.typePublication
oaire.awardTitleDesinFAST-Self-Disinfecting Paint for Infection Control in Public Spaces
oaire.awardURIinfo:eu-repo/grantAgreement/FCT//SFRH%2FBD%2F130203%2F2017/PT
oaire.citation.endPage13pt_PT
oaire.citation.issue1pt_PT
oaire.citation.startPage3pt_PT
oaire.citation.titleWorkpt_PT
oaire.citation.volume69pt_PT
project.funder.identifierhttp://doi.org/10.13039/501100001871
project.funder.nameFundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
rcaap.embargofctAcesso de acordo com página web do editor da revista.pt_PT
rcaap.rightsopenAccesspt_PT
rcaap.typearticlept_PT
relation.isProjectOfPublication8c1a52a8-15d9-4bd0-b94c-8320cbef5a1e
relation.isProjectOfPublication.latestForDiscovery8c1a52a8-15d9-4bd0-b94c-8320cbef5a1e

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