The pandemic COVID-19 beyond the global crisis that has led to humanity, has allowed to create different ways of working and new mechanisms to develop technology, production, logistics, marketing, among others ..., accelerating the process of innovation, development, research (also called groups R & D + i). It has been a time where we have learned to work in a different way and promote the Telework modality, a tool that has been implemented through the -home office- model by some multinational companies since years ago, the results generate operational efficiency in different areas, being this way of working part of a cultural exchange and influential leadership.
The COVID-19 pandemic, globalization and competitiveness, forces the business sector to continually seek new ways to gain efficiency and productivity, and rapid adaptation to changes generates a positive effect on the profitability of operations and the permanence of companies in the short and medium term; as well as having a qualified workforce free of occupational diseases is one of the priorities and best business strategies, being essential that employers implement occupational safety and health programs that go beyond just complying with legal requirements and biosafety plans. The business sector needs to strengthen these programs to provide its collaborators with safe and healthy work environments, which contributes to make this area of occupational health and safety a very important protagonist in the whole link of the production chain.
This new way of working and the search for safe and healthy workplaces makes the professionals in charge of this area to be highly trained and have the technical tools to implement, maintain and continuously improve occupational risk prevention programs, and develop leadership skills that go in line with the new business changes that are taking place at the present time. The pandemic, the economic crisis, the lack of employment, labor instability has also generated another risk such as the negative impact on mental health of workers, the area of occupational health and safety must act and implement plans that seek to eliminate or reduce the levels of psychosocial risks to which they are exposed.
Organizations should analyze and restructure general plans, as well as contingency plans, since in the current times they are working with a certain degree of uncertainty, and it is not known what may happen with the pandemic in the coming years or what possible emergencies there would be exposure to. The COVID-19 pandemic, has led to business challenges and brought great focus to biosecurity, being neglected other latent dangers such as the earthquake that occurred on Saturday, April 16, 2016, where it was evidenced that the country is not prepared for this type of emergencies and since that date has been working on emergency plans, which was suspended to address the current health emergency that the world is facing.
Organizations are exposed to various hazardous situations, it is essential to be prepared for the various scenarios that could materialize, the area of occupational health and safety goes beyond avoiding accidents and reducing absenteeism. The work of senior management is key to provide all the necessary resources for prevention and to act quickly, effectively and in a timely manner.
Sergio Núñez, Ph.D.
Teacher of the Master in Occupational Safety and Health - Online Modality
