Thread by @AliciaTDennis

A THREAD

Many healthcare worker infections in Victoria will be due to workplace #occupationalexposure to #SARSCoV2

This has been acknowledged by Premier, Health Minister & Chief Health Officer
@VictorianCHO @JennyMikakos @DanielAndrewsMP @AndrewWilsonCMO
#covid19vic
#HCW
1/

Workplace exposure to a preventable biohazard which leads to sickness should be thought of as a significant workplace “injury”

The worker went to work well and came home sick (incubating the virus)

2/

1 healthcare worker infected due to occupational exposure is 1 too many

1 healthcare worker who is left with a chronic illness 😞 due to occupational exposure is 1 too many

1 healthcare worker who dies 😢 due to occupational exposure is 1 too many

Aim should be ZERO #HCW
3/

Recently I’ve heard the words “healthcare workers have a high risk job”

This statement should be challenged - before pandemic #HCW did not face many risks to their physical health at work - they went to work, cared for people, did their job, went home (like other workers)

4/

Healthcare workers now face high risks, not because that’s what they signed up to do (ie get a chronic illness, die) but because the pandemic has exposed major deficiencies in workplace safety for #HCW
And has also exposured the ingrained culture of not valuing #HCW
5/

The concept of “healthcare worker safety comes first”[meaning that before HCW cares for patient, they must be in a safe environment themselves] is foreign
HCW are told either explicitly or implicitly that the patient safety comes first & they must “sacrifice” themselves
5/

But when we think about industries that are high risk for physical injury, it is obvious that before a worker is asked to enter a dangerous, life threatening environment, the employer/industry makes sure the worker is rested up, trained up, kitted up and teamed up

7/

For some bizarre reason the healthcare industry, & its #HCW including #doctors, #nurses, has dropped out of the “workplace safety” loop

➡️Just because a healthcare job involves caring for people it should not mean its people are not cared for first

8/

Workers in other industries are protected from #hazards with

Workplace safety culture - for workers

Processes for the control of dangers in the workplace - for workers

And #PPE - for workers

@WorkSafe_Vic @safe_work_aus

9/

The healthcare industry has an enormous focus on patient safety - and of course this is essential and correct

But a large, and immediate, paradigm shift is required to place healthcare worker safety into the equation of healthcare delivery to people

10/

Healthcare workers shouldn’t have to be “heroes” “fighting a war”where casualties are expected/assumed (the #HCW)

Healthcare workers need to be kept safe in the workplace, so they can all do their work knowing that they will return home without injury

11/End