While many American workers have established a new normal with remote work as the COVID-19 pandemic continues, tradespeople, such as nurses, plumbers, general contractors, construction workers and electricians, have continued working in-person at health care facilities, making house calls and commuting to job sites.
According to the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, frontline health care workers face nearly three times greater risk of COVID-19 infection than the general public, even with personal protective equipment (PPE) and after accounting for more frequent testing.
With more than 3.8 million registered nurses, nursing is the largest health care profession, according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. Out of all frontline health care workers, 512 nurses have died, according to a joint report from Kaiser Health News and The Guardian.
For women in trades, poorly-fitting PPE, which can often be too large, can also result in higher risk of infection — especially if workers must stay in close proximity, according to Chris Cain of CPWR — the Center for Construction Research and Training, in an interview with Health and Safety Magazine.
While tradespeople are encouraged to practice social distancing and maintain good hygiene on the job, including frequent handwashing and disinfection, infection control practices are not always feasible. Limited or no handwashing stations and unsanitary toilet facilities are common at construction sites. Social distancing can also be difficult, with people often working in teams in smaller spaces, according to Health and Safety Magazine.
