With COVID-19 cases on the rise again, safety concerns for and among our nation’s healthcare workers are mounting. Infrared Cameras, Inc. (ICI), the leader in advanced biorisk management technology, conducted a national survey of U.S. healthcare workers in November 2020, revealing that less than 30 percent feel safe going to work. Additionally, almost 40 percent of respondents think that their workplace is at risk for lawsuits due to lax safety measures. Nearly 20 percent reported they would consider suing their own employer if they contracted COVID-19 due to inadequate safety measures on the job.
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“As the number of COVID-19 cases are increasing again nationally and around the world, healthcare facilities need to rethink safety measures to ensure they’re doing everything they can to protect healthcare workers on the frontlines combatting COVID-19,” said Gary Strahan, CEO at ICI. “Our survey found that, despite safety measures already in place, the majority of healthcare workers do not feel safe at work.”
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The survey showed the following results detailing the safety protocols most widely used to help reduce the spread of COVID-19, alongside healthcare workers’ sentiment about their workplace safety:
- Three-fourths of healthcare workers believe their organizations should implement additional safety measures;
- The majority of respondents (89 percent) think their workplace should require temperature screenings, with 71 percent saying they would feel safer at work if this measure were to be implemented;
- 80 percent of respondents say that masks are required for all patients and visitors;
- 70 percent reported that their workplace has hand sanitizing stations at entrances, exits; and
- Less than half think that required masks for staff, patients and visitors are the most effective safety measure.
While it’s clear that a majority of facilities currently require a variety of safety measures, such as personal protective equipment (PPE) and sanitization stations, employers are still finding themselves at risks for potential lawsuits due to workers feeling unsafe or believing that employers should be doing more to protect them.
In addition to the aforementioned common safety measures, some facilities have begun to alert employees when positive COVID-19 cases are identified in their buildings. However, only 63 percent of respondents listed that their workplaces take part in notifying them of confirmed cases. This process of informing employees and contact tracing can be crucial for organizations seeking to mitigate the risks and avoid lawsuits due to inadequate safety measures.
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