Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
5.8
3.9
Journals
Sustainability
Special Issues
Sustainable, Safe and Healthy Workplaces after COVID-19: Lessons Learned for...
sustainability-logo
Submit to Special Issue Submit Abstract to Special Issue Review for Sustainability Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

► Journal Menu

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser
share announcement

Sustainable, Safe and Healthy Workplaces after COVID-19: Lessons Learned for the Future of Work in the Post-pandemic Era

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Health, Well-Being and Sustainability".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 18 September 2024 | Viewed by 2879

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Fabio Boccuni

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Italian Workers' Compensation Authority (INAIL), Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, Via Fontana Candida, 1, 00078 Monte Porzio Catone, Italy
Interests: occupational health and safety (OHS); safety engineering; risk assessment; risk management; nanotechnology; nanomaterials; ultrafine particles; exposure measurement; industrial hygiene; Industry 4.0; responsible innovation; prevention-through-design; systematic review; indoor air quality; COVID-19
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Bruna Rondinone

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Italian Workers' Compensation Authority (INAIL), Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, Via Fontana Candida, 1, 00078 Monte Porzio Catone, Italy
Interests: occupational health and safety (OHS); statistics; biostatistics; occupational epidemiology; cross sectional study, survey, systematic reviews; public health; global burden of disease; COVID-19

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The work dimension has been recognised as a key determinant during the COVID-19 pandemic. Several types of professions have been associated with an increased risk of infection, with dramatic impacts in particular on healthcare and other essential workers. Different preventive and protective measures have been proposed to mitigate the risk in different settings, with the immediate effect of reducing the transmission of the virus and protecting workers in the emergency context. In addition, some of these interventions may also become structural measures in the post-pandemic era to improve health, safety and sustainability in workplaces. Changes in the world of work have been accelerated by COVID-19, and lessons learned from the management of the pandemic will be the tipping point on which the future of work activities will be improved and re-designed. In this framework, the aim of this Special Issue is to collect research studies that analyse the impact of COVID-19 risk management with the view to promote healthy, safe and sustainable workplaces.

In this Special Issue, the submission of original research articles and reviews is welcome to explore the impact of lessons learned from COVID-19 to promote safe, healthy and sustainable workplaces. Research areas may include (but are not limited to):

- Work organisation, remote work and flexibility;

- The allocation and re-design of working spaces;

- Indoor air quality improvement;

- Sanitisation procedures and the mitigation of biological risk;

- Health surveillance for fragile and/or vulnerable workers;

- Specific procedures for healthcare workers;

- Collective and personal protective equipment;

- Psychosocial risk management;

- Engagement and participative approach of OSH players;

- Training activities;

- Methods for assessing and managing emerging risks.

Dr. Fabio Boccuni
Dr. Bruna Rondinone
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • COVID-19
  • health and safety at work
  • sustainability
  • preventive measures

Published Papers (3 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

25 pages, 331 KiB  
Article
Exploring the Influence of Construction Companies Characteristics on Their Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Chilean Context
by Felipe Araya, Paula Poblete, Luis Arturo Salazar, Omar Sánchez, Leonardo Sierra-Varela and Álvaro Filun
Sustainability 2024, 16(8), 3417; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16083417 - 19 Apr 2024
Viewed by 364
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic was a significant disruption to the construction industry around the globe with multiple impacts, such as workforce limitations and contractual conflicts. Multiple studies have explored the impacts of the pandemic in the construction sector so far. However, little is known [...] Read more.
The COVID-19 pandemic was a significant disruption to the construction industry around the globe with multiple impacts, such as workforce limitations and contractual conflicts. Multiple studies have explored the impacts of the pandemic in the construction sector so far. However, little is known about how construction companies responded to the pandemic and what companies’ characteristics may have influenced their responses. The objective of this study is to explore the impacts of COVID-19 and how construction companies responded to the pandemic. To do so, semi-structured interviews with experienced professional working in Chile are qualitatively analyzed to leverage their experience. Furthermore, characteristics of construction companies that influenced how companies responded to the pandemic, namely, size, experience, and financial standing, are explored. The results obtained suggest that the focus in responding to the pandemic was taking care of workers’ safety, improving the planning of projects under highly uncertain conditions, and dealing with the financial stress of developing construction projects. When looking at the influence of companies’ experience, size, and economic capacity, experienced and large companies’ responses were related to implementing teleworking and dealing with a limited workforce. Regarding the economic capacity of construction companies, the focus was placed on responding to the pandemic using multiple sources of financing. Differences identified in how construction companies responded to the pandemic emphasizes the importance of understanding attributes that led companies to having better responses to the pandemic and being prepared for the post-pandemic context. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable, Safe and Healthy Workplaces after COVID-19: Lessons Learned for the Future of Work in the Post-pandemic Era)
21 pages, 2093 KiB  
Article
Advancing Sustainability in the Future of Work through the Design of Post-Pandemic Work-from-Home Systems
by Tiago F. A. C. Sigahi, Paul H. P. Yeow and Andrew Thatcher
Sustainability 2023, 15(21), 15367; https://doi.org/10.3390/su152115367 - 27 Oct 2023
Viewed by 1256
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated and solidified the adoption of work-from-home systems (WFHSs) across all economic sectors, and finding ways to incorporate sustainability into these systems is a fundamental aspect of a sustainable future of work. Designing sustainable WFHSs requires an innovative approach capable [...] Read more.
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated and solidified the adoption of work-from-home systems (WFHSs) across all economic sectors, and finding ways to incorporate sustainability into these systems is a fundamental aspect of a sustainable future of work. Designing sustainable WFHSs requires an innovative approach capable of understanding complex interrelationships between multiple systems. This paper applies the sustainable system-of-systems (SSoSs) framework to find innovative design solutions for post-pandemic/endemic WFHSs. First, the SSoSs framework is depicted using examples of applications in systems to clarify its main ideas and concepts. Then, the literature on WFHSs is considered to discuss the impacts of COVID-19 on work from a systemic perspective. This provides inputs for the factors to be considered at each level of the SSoSs analysis. Finally, the SSoSs framework is applied to analyze the WFHSs’ requirements in the context of COVID-19. The nature of the application of this framework is theoretical, facilitating the provision of a multi-layered perspective on sustainability in work systems that are increasingly prevalent across various economic sectors. This study contributes to research and practice by characterizing the various relevant systems and their impact on the design of sustainable WFHSs and identifies multiple intervention points to make predictions about how they might influence other systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable, Safe and Healthy Workplaces after COVID-19: Lessons Learned for the Future of Work in the Post-pandemic Era)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 291 KiB  
Article
Factors Influencing Compliance with COVID-19 Disinfection Safety Guidelines among Disinfection Workers in South Korea
by Seulki Son, Yoon Hyeon Lee and Sarang Jang
Sustainability 2023, 15(16), 12645; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151612645 - 21 Aug 2023
Viewed by 822
Abstract
The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has increased the global demand for disinfection services. Disinfection work involves specialized expertise in the use of chemicals and equipment. However, many studies have not illuminated the essential knowledge and practices of disinfection workers. This study aims [...] Read more.
The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has increased the global demand for disinfection services. Disinfection work involves specialized expertise in the use of chemicals and equipment. However, many studies have not illuminated the essential knowledge and practices of disinfection workers. This study aims to investigate factors influencing disinfection practices to enhance the quality and safety of infection-control measures. A cross-sectional descriptive study among 215 disinfection workers in South Korea was undertaken. The survey questionnaire was designed to collect information on demographic characteristics, disinfection methods, knowledge of COVID-19 disinfectants and their application, and the use of personal protective equipment. Data were analyzed using SPSS 26. Participants who received COVID-19 disinfection training had more knowledge regarding disinfectant products, demonstrated greater adherence to disinfection guidelines, and used more disposable PPE items. The multiple linear regression analysis revealed that being female, completing prior training on COVID-19 disinfection, obtaining disinfectant information through official education, and possessing a subjective awareness of COVID-19 disinfectants and disinfectant knowledge were associated with increased compliance with guidelines for disinfection. This study revealed a gap between perceived compliance and actual knowledge between groups. These findings highlight the importance of retraining disinfection workers, enhancing their qualifications, and promoting responsible disinfection practices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable, Safe and Healthy Workplaces after COVID-19: Lessons Learned for the Future of Work in the Post-pandemic Era)
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-3
Back to TopTop