COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to challenge everyone. Despite the development of vaccines, this continues to be a  challenging time. 

Whilst some countries are effectively implementing vaccination programmes, others are either struggling to resource the supplies needed or seeing a low uptake.  With new variants of the virus also being discovered regularly the risk remains real and something that needs to be actively managed. 

One of the most significant long-term impacts of this pandemic has been the negative effect on people's psychological health and well-being. Experts are predicting a crisis which will last years, with many people simply unable to 'bounce back' from such a prolonged period of uncertainty, disruption, isolation and anxiety. 

Whilst governments and organizations continue to take measures to physically contain the virus, it is also vital that actions are taken to tackle the psychological health crisis. 

ISO 45003 Occupational health and safety – psychological health safety at work – guidelines, which published in June 2021, offers simple to understand, practical  guidance which can help any organization, regardless of location, size, sector or previous knowledge of this critical aspect of OH&S. The pandemic is a psychosocial risk factor which an organization cannot completely eliminate, of course, but there are many other work-related risks which are under an organization's control and which, if acknowledged and managed well, will go a long way to helping workers not only recover but thrive at work. 

ISO 45003 provides practical, simple to understand guidance and many examples of work-related hazards and what can be done to reduce risk. This includes:

• open and honest communication, including active dialogue between decision-makers and workers
• prioritizing tasks and allowing flexible time frames for completion
• increasing workers’ control when and how they do their work
• providing instructions on how to manage foreseeable risks
• encouraging workers to talk about issues and acknowledging individual needs

ISO PAS 45005 also offers practical advice on working safely, both during the pandemic and in those tentative months that will follow once the pandemic is more under control, as a new normal is established. This free to read guidance can help organizations and individual workers, regardless of the current status of the pandemic in the area in which they work.

Many of the core principles of good OH&S management set out in ISO 45001 are just as relevant during and after the pandemic: leadership and commitment from the top are key, as is ongoing planning, assessing health risks and ensuring worker engagement .

Organizations should continue to:

• monitor the impact on workers with changes in the ways of working in response to COVID-19.
• help workers to adapt by offering practical support
• prioritise what needs doing and adapt roles and responsibilities if needed
• encourage workers to support one another and check on each other’s wellbeing

Work on all of the committee's  projects is continuing via virtual meetings.  We would like to thank all our TC 283 experts, National Standards Bodies and liaison organizations who input to our work, for their ongoing support at this challenging time.   

Please do get in touch with us if you would like to discuss any of our projects or have questions.  

 

Martin Cottam, Chair                                           Sally Swingewood, Committee Manager

ISO/TC283                                                             ISO/TC283

Updated: June 2021