Speakers:
Jan Michiel Meeuwsen MA, Manager International Affairs PEROSH
Prof. Andrew Curran, member PEROSH Steering Committee for Health and Safety Executive (HSE, United Kingdom), Chief Scientific Adviser, Director of Research and Head of GSE Profession
Content:
PEROSH is the Partnership for European Research in Occupational Safety and Health (OSH). The PEROSH vision is that policymakers, workplaces and other stakeholders across Europe are inspired by and use knowledge generated by PEROSH in their efforts to develop innovative and sustainable workplaces which are healthy and safe. PEROSH comprises 14 national research institutes from 13 countries on the continent of Europe. Each institute plays a key national role through their affiliation to government, health and accident insurance systems, or industry and trade unions. The partnership acts collectively to: strengthen cooperation on OSH research and accelerate the generation of knowledge in key areas of OSH; and disseminate and exchange knowledge and information on OSH issues.
At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, PEROSH took the initiative to set up an online platform for intensified collaboration between its members on issues related to the protection against the corona virus. There were many questions on testing and certification of respiratory protective equipment and the platform assisted in sharing experiences, testing protocols and other insights. Gradually, the discussions on the platform moved to return to work guidelines.
Scientists from PEROSH institutes, working according to their institute’s national role or as part of national task forces are providing advice on suitability of personal protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare workers; investigating methods for PPE decontamination and reuse as a last resort if supplies fail; developing evidence to inform effective measures to control the risk of workplace transmission and to identify its contribution to total transmission; and informing advice by government ministries to support the health of those working from home.
In this presentation the platform was presented and major discussions and findings shared. Furthermore, HSE from the United Kingdom, one of the PEROSH members, shared its experiences on how they made use of the platform for rapid reviews and coming to grips with the chaotic information overflow in the beginning of the pandemic.
Date: 19 November 2020
Session Time: 14:10 – 15:00 (GMT+3, Istanbul)
Session Title: PEROSH-COVID-19 Coordination Platform; Impressions and Lessons Learned
Chair: Prof. Dr. Belma GÜMÜŞEL
Speakers: Jan Michiel Meeuwsen, Prof. Andrew Curran