Medical panel examines back-to-work policies

Medical practitioners across Barbados have recommended the implementation of a policy for the return to work of the vulnerable population.

This is one of the conclusions of a COVID-19 Task Force commissioned back in March by members of the Barbados Association of Medical Practitioners (BAMP) to discuss the phased return.

Co-chair of the Task Force Dr Lynda Williams declined to comment on the seven-page report which also warned that implementation of such a policy must be carefully weighed given the potential for employee discrimination.

“The decision to implement a policy that allows some employees to return to work and not others based on a health condition that may make them more susceptible to developing severe COVID-19, is one that must be weighed carefully in the light of the potential for employee discrimination,” stated the document, a copy of which has been obtained by Barbados TODAY.

The task force said the document represents an initial outline of how such a phased re-entry to work in the COVID-19 pandemic may be initiated and implemented and may be modified over time.

“The policy should incorporate the duty of care of the employer, the responsibility of the employee and the ability of a physician to make an adequate risk assessment and a recommendation to an employer or to a health and safety management committee,” said the report which is yet to be officially released.

“The ability for a fair risk assessment to be made will depend on the level of communication between employer, employee and the physician(s) making the health risk assessment,” added the document which Barbados TODAY understands is for the guidance of medical doctors and will be shared with health authorities.

The task force has said that the recommendations of the safety and health committee should be implemented where possible.

  “We, therefore, believe that the current COVID-19 global pandemic presents a health and safety risk and that a policy for shielding of vulnerable employees is warranted in the light of the risk of some persons developing severe COVID-19 if exposed to the novel coronavirus,” the report declared.

The report strongly suggested that before the policy is implemented, consideration should first be given to the conditions which must be in place for any business to reopen.

It said this must include guidance from the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MHW) to all business sectors set to resume regular day-to-day activities.

The task force listed a number of principles that must inform a reopening. They include strengthening of occupational safety and health measures, adapting work arrangements such as operating from home, preventing discrimination and exclusion of any worker based on health or age, provision of health access for all and expanding access to paid leave.

Employee assessment was one of the key recommendations in the document.

The report said an employee assessment tool may be given to each worker who wishes to be assessed which should trigger a request for an assessment letter for the physician.

“No company should require mandatory disclosure of individually identifiable health information to the employer at any time; and any health information revealed by an employee to a health and safety representative or committee must be deemed confidential,” it insisted.

“No employer should make assessment of an employee mandatory if the employee deems that they are fit and able to return to work in accordance with the laws of Barbados,” the document continued.

The task force named those who have conditions that pose an actual risk of developing severe COVID-19 if contracted and those who perceive undue risk and believe that the conditions under which they work pose an unreasonable threat to their health as two categories of employees to be specially considered.

The doctors also addressed an area of risk which they said is not often acknowledged.

“Though not often recognized, we believe that the risk assessment should include identifying employees at increased psychological risk for depression/ anxiety related to COVID-19,” they said in the report.

“These would include persons 60 years and older living alone, persons with a previous history of major depressive disorder or attempted suicide, individuals with a history of substance abuse and persons with chronic pain or worsening health condition.” emmanueljoseph@barbadostoday.bb