With much of the nation’s workforce returning to in-person work, the NSC is urging employers to take responsibility for the physical and psychological safety of workers.
“Losing more than 1 million lives to COVID-19 in the United States is devastating to our nation, and the threat of more loss to this deadly virus persists,” said Lorraine Martin, NSC president and CEO. “We must all do more, and I urge employers across the country to help mitigate the spread and loss of life to COVID-19 by implementing proven safety techniques. We know how to keep workers safe; we need to take action to do so.”
This can by achieved through implementing vaccine requirements and using all proven safety countermeasures, including masking, frequent handwashing, improved ventilation and regular disinfecting of work surfaces, the organization said.
Leaders should continuously reevaluate how their organization addresses safety, and update their policies and procedures to reflect their current COVID-19 community levels.
Mental and physical toll
Beside the physical toll of COVID-19, the pandemic has also taken a toll on the mental health of U.S. workers, with recent research showing that feelings of depression and anxiety were strongly correlated with how safe an individual felt at work.
The NSC encourages employers to address both issues with employees and the organization has resources for addressing COVID-19 and mental health-related issues.