Lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic—what Occupational Safety and Health can bring to Public Health

Abstract

We strive to increase public (PH) and occupational health (OSH) inter-linkages by building a collaborative framework. Besides Covid-19 pandemic, recent approaches such as Human Exposome and Total Worker Health TM, have led to a shift to improving health of working population and consequently the total population. These health objectives can be best realised through primary care actors in specific contexts. Work, school, home and leisure are the four multi-stakeholder contexts in which health and healthcare (goal-oriented care) objectives needs to be set and defined. PH policy makers need to establish a shared decision-making process involving employees, employers and OSH representatives to set PH goals and align with OSH goals. The policy making process in OSH can serve as a potential way forward, as the decisions and policies are being decided centrally in consultation with social partners and governments. This process can then be mirrored on company level to adopt and implement.

Key messages

• Synergies and close collaboration between  occupational and public health professionals are key to prevent community-acquired infections, as has been demonstrated during the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Work, school, home and leisure are four multi-stakeholder contexts in which we propose public health professionals to define and set both health and healthcare (goal-oriented care) objectives.

• Public Health objectives are best realized locally both with and within the local community in conjunction with relevant OSH stakeholders.