New Covid-19 risk assessment return-to-work guidelines launched

SOM (the Society of Occupational Medicine) and the University of Glasgow have combined to launch new Covid-19 return-to-work guidelines that, for the first time, take account of community prevalence, vaccination status and previous Covid-19 infection in the risk assessment.

The guidelines are intended for workers, employers, occupational health practitioners and other health practitioners, such as GPs.

SOM pointed that, as only 50% of UK workers have access to occupational health, for many workers their risk assessment will have to be done by their GP, employer or themselves and therefore the guidance is designed to help all parties understand their risks and the appropriate work-related control measures.

The guidance emphasises that there are multiple factors to consider in the Covid-19 return-to-work risk assessment.

These include community infection levels, individual vulnerability, workplace/commute transmission risk, workers’ concerns and expectations and, more recently, vaccination and previous Covid-19 infection.

The rapid guide describes these factors and presents a simple stepwise approach to inform decisions and facilitate safe return to work, said SOM.

The guideline also includes an appendix on worker rehabilitation and pragmatic occupational health advice for workers with “long Covid”.

It can be downloaded here.