{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,9]],"date-time":"2026-06-09T07:03:12Z","timestamp":1780988592480,"version":"3.54.1"},"reference-count":47,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,9]],"date-time":"2026-06-09T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1780963200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Public Health"],"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Introduction<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Occupational health and safety (OHS) practices witnessed profound changes worldwide during the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic exposed critical vulnerabilities in workplace preparedness, particularly among workers in high-exposure and essential service sectors.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines using PubMed, Google Scholar, DOAJ, ResearchGate, and gray literature sources. Studies published between January 2020 and December 2024 focusing on occupational exposure, workplace transmission, OHS guidelines, and workforce health during COVID-19 were included.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Healthcare workers experienced the highest occupational risk due to sustained patient contact and aerosol-generating procedures, accompanied by significant psychological distress and burnout. Essential workers, manufacturing sectors, retail workers, educators, and informal sector workers also faced substantial occupational and socioeconomic challenges. Workplace interventions including engineering controls, administrative controls, PPE use, vaccination strategies, and digital surveillance tools reduced workplace transmission. Remote-enabled sectors demonstrated lower infection risk but increased mental health concerns.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Discussion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>The COVID-19 pandemic transformed traditional OHS frameworks by integrating infectious disease preparedness, vaccination strategies, mental health support, and workplace surveillance into occupational safety systems. The findings emphasize the need for integrated, adaptive, and equitable OHS frameworks aligned with public health preparedness to strengthen workforce resilience against future pandemics.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fpubh.2026.1807940","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,9]],"date-time":"2026-06-09T06:14:35Z","timestamp":1780985675000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Occupational health and safety in the wake of COVID-19: insights from India's workforce"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"14","author":[{"given":"Nikita","family":"Birhman","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Division of Development Research, ICMR Hqrs","place":["New Delhi, India"]},{"name":"Division of Biological Sciences, ICMR-NIOH","place":["Ahmedabad, India"]},{"name":"Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research","place":["Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, India"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Gitika","family":"Kharkwal","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Division of Development Research, ICMR Hqrs","place":["New Delhi, India"]},{"name":"Division of Biological Sciences, ICMR-NIOH","place":["Ahmedabad, India"]},{"name":"Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research","place":["Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, India"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Sudipto","family":"Roy","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Division of Development Research, ICMR Hqrs","place":["New Delhi, India"]},{"name":"Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research","place":["Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, India"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Navsin","family":"Shaikh","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Division of Biological Sciences, ICMR-NIOH","place":["Ahmedabad, India"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Poonam Sharma","family":"Velamuri","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"ICMR-RMRC","place":["Dibrugarh, India"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Hem","family":"Lata","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Discovery Division, ICMR Hqrs","place":["New Delhi, India"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Abhishweta","family":"Saxena","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"DHR","place":["New Delhi, India"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Aanchal","family":"Satija","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Division of Development Research, ICMR Hqrs","place":["New Delhi, India"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Kh Jitenkumar","family":"Singh","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Data Centre ICMR Hqrs.","place":["New Delhi, India"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Taruna","family":"Madan","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Division of Development Research, ICMR Hqrs","place":["New Delhi, India"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jugal","family":"Kishore","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Community Medicine, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College & Safdarjung Hospital","place":["New Delhi, India"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Prakash","family":"Kanti","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Division of Development Research, ICMR Hqrs","place":["New Delhi, India"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Tanu","family":"Anand","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Division of Development Research, ICMR Hqrs","place":["New Delhi, India"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,9]]},"reference":[{"key":"B1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"13","DOI":"10.1186\/s42506-021-00076-z","article-title":"Occupational health risk among healthcare workers during COVID-19 pandemic: actions to limit the risk","volume":"96","author":"Casper","year":"2021","journal-title":"J Egypt Public Health Assoc."},{"key":"B2","unstructured":"Geneva\n          World Health Organization\n          Occupational Health\n          \n          2026"},{"key":"B3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1123920","DOI":"10.3389\/fpubh.2022.1123920","article-title":"Editorial: COVID-19: challenges, opportunities and lessons for occupational health","volume":"10","author":"Zhang","year":"2023","journal-title":"Front Public Health."},{"key":"B4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"333","DOI":"10.1177\/00333549221138294","article-title":"COVID-19 outbreaks linked to workplaces, 23 US Jurisdictions, August-October 2021","volume":"138","author":"Luckhaupt","year":"2023","journal-title":"Public Health Rep."},{"key":"B5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"57","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-031-10788-7_5","article-title":"A systematic review of how remote work affects workplace stress and mental health","author":"Guidarini","year":"2023","journal-title":"Human-Automation Interaction: Automation, Collaboration, & E-Services"},{"key":"B6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e751","DOI":"10.1093\/pubmed\/fdab139","article-title":"Business sectors' initiatives on health and safety protocols and vaccination program among employees during the COVID-19 pandemic","volume":"43","author":"Yutuc","year":"2021","journal-title":"J Public Health."},{"key":"B7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"637","DOI":"10.4103\/ijmr.ijmr_2204_21","article-title":"Psychosocial impact of COVID-19 pandemic on HCWs in India and their perceptions on the way forward-A qualitative study","volume":"153","author":"Chakma","year":"2021","journal-title":"Indian J Med Res"},{"key":"B8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"19","DOI":"10.24321\/2455.7048.202217","article-title":"Changes in lifestyle, food choices, sleeping habits, and physical activities during the COVID-19 pandemic: analysis of data after the first lockdown period from three states of India","volume":"7","author":"Raheem","year":"2022","journal-title":"Epidemiol Int."},{"key":"B9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"694","DOI":"10.1136\/oemed-2022-108726","article-title":"Recognition of COVID-19 with occupational origin: a comparison between European countries","volume":"80","author":"Nys","year":"2023","journal-title":"Occup Environ Med."},{"key":"B10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"17","DOI":"10.18782\/2582-7146.176","article-title":"Impact assessment of COVID-19 on Indian agriculture","volume":"3","author":"Ahmad","year":"2022","journal-title":"Curr Res Agri Far."},{"key":"B11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e042270","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjopen-2020-042270","article-title":"COVID-19 and healthcare workers: a rapid systematic review into risks and preventive measures","volume":"11","author":"Gross","year":"2021","journal-title":"BMJ Open."},{"key":"B12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"63","DOI":"10.1037\/amp0000716","article-title":"COVID-19 and the workplace: implications, issues, and insights for future research and action","volume":"76","author":"Kniffin","year":"2021","journal-title":"Am Psychol."},{"key":"B13","year":"2021","journal-title":"Preventing and Mitigating COVID-19 at Work: Policy Brief"},{"key":"B14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"15","DOI":"10.1016\/j.clinbiochem.2020.09.003","article-title":"Staff rostering, split team arrangement, social distancing (physical distancing) and use of personal protective equipment to minimize risk of workplace transmission during the COVID-19 pandemic: a simulation study","volume":"86","author":"Lim","year":"2020","journal-title":"Clin Biochem."},{"key":"B15","unstructured":"Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19\n          \n          2020"},{"key":"B16","unstructured":"WHO Coronavirus (COVID-19) Dashboard\n          \n          2024"},{"key":"B17","unstructured":"India detects new COVID-19 subvariants NB\n          \n          \n            \n              India\n              Today Web Desk\n            \n          \n          India Today\n          \n          2025"},{"key":"B18","unstructured":"COVID-19: Occupational Health and Safety for Health Workers: Interim Guidance\n          \n          2021"},{"key":"B19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"103436","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jvb.2020.103436","article-title":"Unemployment in the time of COVID-19: a research agenda","volume":"119","author":"Blustein","year":"2020","journal-title":"J Vocat Behav."},{"key":"B20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"664","DOI":"10.5005\/jp-journals-10071-23518","article-title":"Burnout among Healthcare Workers during COVID-19 Pandemic in India: results of a Questionnaire-based Survey","volume":"24","author":"Khasne","year":"2020","journal-title":"Indian J Crit Care Med."},{"key":"B21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"n71","DOI":"10.1136\/bmj.n71","article-title":"The PRISMA 2020 statement: an updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews","volume":"372","author":"Page","year":"2021","journal-title":"BMJ."},{"key":"B22","unstructured":"The Newcastle\u2013Ottawa Scale (NOS) for Assessing the Quality of Nonrandomised Studies in Meta-Analyses\n          \n          \n            \n              Wells\n              GA\n            \n            \n              Shea\n              B\n            \n            \n              O'Connell\n              D\n            \n            \n              Peterson\n              J\n            \n            \n              Welch\n              V\n            \n            \n              Losos\n              M\n            \n          \n          \n          2014"},{"key":"B23","unstructured":"Adelaide\n          Joanna Briggs Institute\n          JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist for Systematic Reviews and Research Syntheses\n          \n          2017"},{"key":"B24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"39","DOI":"10.1002\/ajim.23199","article-title":"Estimation of differential occupational risk of COVID-19 by comparing risk factors with case data by occupational group","volume":"64","author":"Zhang","year":"2021","journal-title":"Am J Ind Med."},{"key":"B25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e0264956","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0264956","article-title":"Psychological distress and burnout among healthcare worker during COVID-19 pandemic in India\u2014A cross-sectional study","volume":"17","author":"Menon","year":"2022","journal-title":"PLoS ONE."},{"key":"B26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"572","DOI":"10.4103\/ijmr.ijmr_2805_21","article-title":"Reopening of schools during COVID-19 pandemic: a persistent dilemma","volume":"153","author":"Anand","year":"2021","journal-title":"Indian J Med Res."},{"key":"B27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1007\/s40847-023-00236-1","article-title":"Digital divide and access to online education: new evidence from Tamil Nadu, India","author":"Jafar","year":"2023","journal-title":"J Soc Econ Dev."},{"key":"B28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"312","DOI":"10.1057\/s41291-022-00202-5","article-title":"Working from home during COVID-19 and its impact on Indian employees' stress and creativity","volume":"23","author":"Jaiswal","year":"2024","journal-title":"Asian Bus Manag."},{"key":"B29","unstructured":"Hierarchy of Controls\n          \n          2024"},{"key":"B30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"245","DOI":"10.1007\/s11051-023-05891-3","article-title":"An analysis of \u201chierarchy of controls\u201d in workplaces and laboratories involving nanomaterials","volume":"25","author":"Omari Shekaftik","year":"2023","journal-title":"J NanopartRes."},{"key":"B31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"118","DOI":"10.1186\/s12960-021-00661-5","article-title":"Frontline healthcare workers' mental distress, top concerns, and assessment on hierarchy of controls in response to COVID-19: a cross-sectional survey study","volume":"19","author":"Zhang","year":"2021","journal-title":"Hum Resour Health."},{"key":"B32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e12308","DOI":"10.1002\/1348-9585.12308","article-title":"Association between perceived organizational support and COVID-19 vaccination intention: a cross-sectional study J Occup Health","volume":"63","author":"Kobayashi","year":"2021"},{"key":"B33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"988","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph18030988","article-title":"The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on immunization campaigns and programs: a systematic review","volume":"18","author":"Lassi","year":"2021","journal-title":"Int J Environ Res Public Health."},{"key":"B34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e23951","DOI":"10.7759\/cureus.23951","article-title":"COVID-19 vaccine challenges in developing and developed countries","volume":"14","author":"Yarlagadda","year":"2022","journal-title":"Cureus."},{"key":"B35","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"174","DOI":"10.1038\/d41586-021-03830-7","article-title":"Researchers fear growing COVID vaccine hesitancy in developing nations","volume":"601","author":"Mallapaty","year":"2022","journal-title":"Nature."},{"key":"B36","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/d41586-021-01987-9","article-title":"COVID vaccines have higher approval in less-affluent countries","author":"Kozlov","year":"2021","journal-title":"Nature"},{"key":"B37","volume-title":"Preventive Measures to be Taken to Contain the Spread of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)","year":"2020"},{"key":"B38","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"161","DOI":"10.6092\/issn.1561-8048\/11202","article-title":"The ILO response to COVID-19: ILO and international labour standards in times of a pandemic","volume":"13","author":"Selberg","year":"2020","journal-title":"Ital Labour Law E-J."},{"key":"B39","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2850","DOI":"10.47750\/pnr.2022.13.S10.341","article-title":"Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri-Jan Arogya Yojana and its crucial impact on human health during the time of COVID-19 in India","volume":"13","author":"Gogoi","year":"2022","journal-title":"J Pharm Negat Results."},{"key":"B40","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"881","DOI":"10.1093\/annweh\/wxae067","article-title":"SARS-CoV-2 antibody prevalence by industry, workplace characteristics, and workplace infection prevention and control measures, North Carolina, USA, 2021 to 2022","volume":"68","author":"Gigot","year":"2024","journal-title":"Ann Work Expo Health."},{"key":"B41","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"705","DOI":"10.33182\/ml.v17i5.1048","article-title":"The COVID-19, migration and livelihood in India: challenges and policy issues","volume":"17","author":"Bhagat","year":"2020","journal-title":"Migr Lett."},{"key":"B42","article-title":"Anamika Ray Memorial Trust","volume-title":"COVID Katha: A Multimedia Guide for Mass Awareness","year":"2020"},{"key":"B43","unstructured":"Jaisoorya\n              TS\n            \n            \n              Abel\n              T\n            \n            \n              Jolly\n              AJ\n            \n            \n              Desai\n              G\n            \n            \n              Bhargav\n              H\n            \n            \n              Muliyala\n              KP\n            \n          \n          Bengaluru\n          Department of Health & Family Welfare, Government of Karnataka & Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences\n          Caring for Health Care Warriors: Mental Health Support during COVID-19\n          \n          2020"},{"key":"B44","unstructured":"Protecting workers: Guidance on Mitigating and Preventing the Spread of COVID-19 in the Workplace\n          \n          2021"},{"key":"B45","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.24321\/2455.7048.202107","article-title":"Experience and challenges in establishing quarantine facility for suspected COVID-19 cases: field briefing","volume":"6","author":"Garg","year":"2021","journal-title":"Epidem Int."},{"key":"B46","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"60","DOI":"10.1038\/s41541-021-00327-2","article-title":"Strategy for COVID-19 vaccination in India: the country with the second highest population and number of cases","volume":"6","author":"Kumar","year":"2021","journal-title":"NPJ Vaccines."},{"key":"B47","unstructured":"Global\n              Call to Action Against Poverty\n            \n          \n          Tracking impact of COVID-19 on migrant workers in India. Global call to action against poverty & Wada na todo abhiyan\n          \n          2022"}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Public Health"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpubh.2026.1807940\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,9]],"date-time":"2026-06-09T06:14:57Z","timestamp":1780985697000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpubh.2026.1807940\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,9]]},"references-count":47,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fpubh.2026.1807940"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fpubh.2026.1807940","relation":{},"ISSN":["2296-2565"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2296-2565","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,9]]},"article-number":"1807940"}}