Occupational safety and health management of COVID-19 at a company in the Peruvian fishing sector

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the occupational safety and health management of COVID-19 at a company in the Peruvian fishing sector Methods: The independent variable was occupational safety and health management, defined as the implementation of preventive and control measures in response to COVID-19. The dependent variable was defined as the number of detected COVID-19 cases and test positivity rate. We used a pre- (implementation phase) and post-test (following the implementation phase) study design. We performed a non-parametric inferential analysis to identify any significant pre- and post-test differences and any associations between the variables. Results: The company initiated a strategy to detect positive cases through the use of sero-logical tests. During the first stage, 2329 tests were conducted, yielding a positivity rate of 71%. Once prevention and control actions were implemented, the positivity rate in August 2020 had decreased to 15.65%, a statistically significant decrease (p<0.05), as well as its relationship to the measures implemented. Conclusions: This occupational safety and health intervention significantly reduced the number of COVID-19 cases and positivity rate in this group of workers in the Peruvian fishing sector.