Published: May 2020
By: Jay Patel, Research Assistant for Income Security Policy

The U.S. workers’ compensation system in its current form is complex, opaque and fragmented. Unlike other social insurance programs, it is wholly administered at the state level, and there is neither federal oversight nor any federal mandate that sets out minimum standards. As a result, there is substantial variation across states in levels of both coverage and benefits. Moreover, compensation differs for job-related injuries versus illnesses.

The International ORP Foundation in cooperation with the Vision Zero Business Council has hosted a series of three Vision Zero Webinars. The  webinars have shown how important a participatory approach to safety and health at work really is during the COVID-19 pandemic. The three webinars are available on YouTube:

Webinar 1: Vision Zero in times of Covid-19 (I)

The japanese company IDEC, an Vision Zero Supporter who signed up on the Vision Zero website to promote safety, health and wellbeing, has developed this interesting tool to manage wellbeing in times of COVID-19. Leveraging the Vision Zero philosophy to ensure Safety, Health, and Wellbeing, this checklist tool is based on the 7 Golden Rules. It focusses on the Vision Zero aspects of wellbeing, such as a ‘lack of control’ or a ‘lack of social support’ while working remotely, as well as other factors that define wellbeing at home.

COVID-19 Series: Fumigation or Disinfection, they are not the same.

UN Secretary-General Policy Brief: COVID-19 and the need for action on mental health

Key messages:

The problem:

IOSH have launched a series of webinars for occupational safety and health professionals on the Covid-19 situation.

The WHO information network for epidemics (EPI-WIN) publishes Corona Virus Updates in regular intervals, each time looking at a different risk or risk group. 

Already facing exclusion in employment, persons with disabilities are more likely to lose their job and experience greater difficulties returning to work during recovery. In most countries social protection systems offer little support to persons with disabilities and their families with much less access to social insurance. Only 28% of persons with significant disabilities have access to disability benefits globally, and only 1% in low-income countries.

Le Service Public Fédéral Emploi, Travail et Concertation sociale (SPF) a publié plusieurs guides sur COVID-19 qui traitent les questions suivantes: Quelles mesures de prévention l’employeur peut-il prendre ? Et quelles sont les conséquences en matière de réglementation du travail ?

El Ministerio de Salud y Protección Social de Colombia ha expedido varios documentos técnicos para la emergencia sanitaria generada por el Coronavirus COVID-19.