The Infection Control/OSH Interface Focus Programme

Under this focus programme, the Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (Bundesanstalt für Arbeitsschutz und Arbeitsmedizin, BAuA) is doing research into work-related infection risks and evidence-based protective measures in the workplace.

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The COVID-19 pandemic posed major challenges for occupational safety and health (OSH) professionals: lockdowns, home offices, quick tests, and working in face coverings all required action to be taken by every single organisation and employee.

Deckblatt von "baua: Aktuell" - Ausgabe 4/2023

Issue 04/2023 of baua: Aktuell gives an overview of BAuA’s research activities under its Infection Control/OSH Interface Focus Programme. Specifically, this issue discusses human beings as sources of bioaerosols, appropriate protective measures such as airing and ventilation for infection control, and much more, including the role of work organisation interventions during the pandemic, in particular at inpatient nursing and residential care settings. baua: Aktuell issue 4/2023 (in German)

The local occurrence of easily transmissible pathogens humanity has never come into contact with before can escalate into a pandemic that has dramatic consequences for the world’s whole population. The complex interaction of numerous factors means pandemic events could happen more frequently in future than in the past. The reasons for this include population growth, globalisation, climate change, anthropogenic encroachments on animal habitats, and pathogens’ ability to adapt. 

It is therefore vitally important to take appropriate infection control measures in workplaces when responding to a pandemic. This applies, in particular, if infectious pathogens are transmitted as components of bioaerosols. The aim therefore has to be for organisations to implement pandemic plans that include suitable OSH measures and help hold down levels of infection, protect employees’ health, and at the same time allow the economy to keep running. 

Workplace situations where, for example, social distancing rules cannot be enforced or home office arrangements are not an option have particular relevance here. The recommendations made for such cases will close the gaps in the legally binding OSH measures that are already stipulated under the German Biological Agents Ordinance (Biostoffverordnung, BioStoffV) for occupational activities with generally increased risks of infection. The legal basis for these measures is laid down in the Technical Rules for Biological Agents (Technische Regeln für Biologische Arbeitsstoffe, TRBAs), which are drawn up by the Committee on Biological Agents (Ausschuss für Biologische Arbeitsstoffe, ABAS). The health sector is governed by TRBA 250 and laboratory work by TRBA 100.  

Three thematic clusters 

This focus programme brings together research on topics connected with infection control and OSH and the development and management of workplace OSH provision. Building on the research conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic, further issues are being addressed and explored in depth within three interdisciplinary clusters: 

Epidemiology 

The main priority for the Epidemiology of Work-related Infectious Diseases Thematic Cluster is the identification of occupational fields with raised risks of infection and the impacts of their long-term consequences. The findings will inform activity-specific OSH recommendations, in particular for sectors and activities that have so far lacked recommendations of this kind on the protection of employees against infectious pathogens. 

Epidemiology 

Evidence-based Protective Measures 

As far as future pandemic pathogens are concerned, it is of central significance to acquire a more precise understanding of their airborne transmission and suitable protective measures. The Evidence-based Protective Measures Thematic Cluster is therefore concentrating on the role played by human beings as sources of bioaerosols and effective infection control in the workplace. The aim is to ensure the strategies and measures available when responding to any future events are as reliable and carefully customised as possible. 

Evidence-based Protective Measures 

Disinfectants 

The experience gained during the pandemic showed that securing the availability of effective disinfectants is a significant factor in the response to a pandemic. This experience is pivotal for the Disinfectants Thematic Cluster, the aim of which is to ensure the lessons learned from COVID-19 can be drawn on to prepare for possible future pandemics and help determine what further research is required.  

Disinfectants 

Organisation

As the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has shown, companies are faced with particular organisational challenges in the event of a pandemic. The Organisation of Occupational Safety and Health and Infection Protection Thematic Cluster therefore focuses on the nature and success of the organisational measures taken to protect employees during the pandemic as well as the consequences of permanent operational changes for occupational safety and health.

Organisation

In addition, it is to be examined how far knowledge about patterns of infection (e.g. pandemic phases) among the population can be integrated into workplace infection control concepts. This will serve as the foundation for recommendations on evidence-based action to be drawn up for activities that have not been adequately covered by the Biological Agents Ordinance to date, if at all. Such recommendations are to be formulated with future challenges in mind and dealt with through inter-ministerial channels.

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Epidemiology

Topic

Only detailed understanding of an activity makes it possible to protect employees appropriately against infections. BAuA identifies occupations with elevated risks of infection and supports the development of activity-specific recommendations.

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Evidence-based Protective Measures

Topic

The more that is known about the effectiveness of protective measures, the more safely organisations can respond when a pandemic breaks out. The Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (Bundesanstalt für Arbeitsschutz und Arbeitsmedizin, BAuA) is addressing unresolved questions in the research it conducts so that organisations can be given practical guidance for future pandemics.

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Disinfectants

Topic

In a pandemic there tends to be enormous demand for effective, safe disinfectants. Authorisation bodies therefore require particular knowledge about common disinfectants, possible alternatives, and their safe usage.

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Organisation of OSH and Infection Control

Topic

Every employer has a duty to organise occupational safety and health (OSH) provision in the workplace. The aim is to ensure employees are protected against work-related health risks by taking suitable OSH measures.

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Insights into the focus programme

Publikationen

Search results

(In)equality at the workplace? Differences in occupational safety and health measures during the COVID-19 pandemic and related employee health

Article 2023

Der gesamte Artikel kann in englischer Sprache von der Internetseite des Journals "Soziale Welt", Volume 74, Ausgabe 1, S. …

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Arbeitszeitreport Deutschland: Veränderungen der Arbeitszeit in der SARS-CoV-2-Pandemie

baua: Report brief 2023

Die SARS-CoV-2-Pandemie hat einige Veränderungen von Arbeitszeit und -ort mit sich gebracht. Bei der Hälfte aller Beschäftigten …

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baua: Aktuell - Ausgabe 4/2023

baua: Aktuell 2023

Schwerpunkt dieser Ausgabe ist das Thema "Forschung an der Schnittstelle von Infektions- und Arbeitsschutz". 

Die COVID

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Folgen der COVID-19 Pandemie für die Ausgestaltung von Sicherheit und Gesundheitsschutz am Arbeitsplatz

baua: Fokus 2023

Der vorliegende Fokus fasst die Ergebnisse einer umfassenden Literaturstudie zusammen, die dauerhafte Veränderungen in der …

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"Du bist jeden Tag in der Höhle des Löwen und schleppst das hier mit nach Hause"

Article 2022

Der gesamte Artikel kann über die Internetseite des Journals "Die Schwester - Der Pfleger", Volume 61, Ausgabe 4, S. 48-49 …

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Arbeits­schutz an Schulen während der SARS-CoV-2-Pandemie

baua: Report brief 2022

Die SARS-CoV-2-Pandemie hat vorhandene gesundheitsrelevante Herausforderungen an Schulen verstärkt und neue hervorgebracht. …

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Arbeitsschutz in Kleinst- und Kleinbetrieben während der Pandemie und in der Zukunft

baua: Fokus 2022

Auswertungen der Daten der 16. Welle der Betriebsbefragung "Betriebe in der COVID-19 Krise" zeigen, dass bei der Umsetzung …

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Aufsicht vor Ort während der Corona-Pandemie

baua: Report brief 2022

Die Arbeitsschutzaufsicht stand während der Corona-Pandemie vor besonderen Herausforderungen, die den Trend langfristig …

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Authors' response: Occupation and SARS-CoV-2 infection risk among workers during the first pandemic wave in Germany: potential for bias

Article 2022

Dieser Artikel ist im "Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health" (2022) erschienen.

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baua: Aktuell - Ausgabe 2/2022

baua: Aktuell 2022

Die Veröffentlichung "baua: Aktuell / Amtliche Mitteilungen der Bundesanstalt für Arbeitsschutz und Arbeitsmedizin (BAuA)" …

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