Occupational safety and health in public health emergencies: a manual for protecting health workers and responders

Overview

This manual provides an overview of the main OSH risks faced by emergency responders during disease outbreaks and other emergencies, such as natural disasters, chemical incidents, radiological emergencies and emergencies involving conflicts. The intent is to assist organizations and workplaces to better prepare and respond to these events. The manual, which is particularly focused on needs in low-resource settings, provides technical guidance on good practices and procedures in establishing systems that can: 1) reduce occupational exposures, injury, illness and death among response workers; 2) decrease stress and reduce fears; and 3) promote the health and well-being of health-care and other response workers.