Identification of especially sensitive workers through an occupational health questionnaire

Abstract

Objective: To facilitate the identification of especially sensitive workers (ESWs) to occupational risks and the prioritization of initial and periodic health examinations for workers in healthcare facilities.

Method: A cross-sectional study conducted on healthcare professionals from eleven primary care teams and one hospital center of the Gerència de Terres de l’Ebre of the Institut Català de la Salut. A labor health questionnaire was used, which included variables defining the vulnerabilities of especially sensitive workers (ESWs), along with basic blood test and serologies adapted to the risks of the healthcare environment. In the first phase, this methodology was applied to newly hired workers during the pandemic period (2020-2022), and in the second phase, it was expanded to include all ESWs registered from 2013 to 2023.

Results: Ten ESWs were identified in the first phase and 598 ESWs in the second phase. The most frequent associated vulnerability group was pregnancy/breastfeeding (n=271; 45.3%), followed by musculoskeletal (n=145; 24.3%), allergies (n=55; 9.2%), mental health (n=38; 6.4%), immunological (n=33; 5.5%), other vulnerabilities (n=32; 5.4%), and sensory disabilities (n=24; 4.0%). In both phases of our study, 100% of the defining variables for ESWs could be identified using this method.

Conclusions: The implementation of a labor health questionnaire, complemented with blood test and serologies, is a useful tool for facilitating the initial identification of ESWs, prioritizing health examinations for newly hired ESWs, and improving occupational monitoring for the remaining workers.