Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42344246›Full record

SynthesisFrontiers in public health2026

Occupational health and safety in the wake of COVID-19: insights from India's workforce.

Nikita Birhman, Gitika Kharkwal, Sudipto Roy, Navsin Shaikh, Poonam Sharma Velamuri, Hem Lata, Abhishweta Saxena, Aanchal Satija, Kh Jitenkumar Singh, Taruna Madan and 3 more

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Frontiers in public health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Nikita Birhman *Division of Development Research, ICMR Hqrs, New Delhi, India.
Gitika Kharkwal *Division of Development Research, ICMR Hqrs, New Delhi, India.
Sudipto Roy *Division of Development Research, ICMR Hqrs, New Delhi, India.
Navsin Shaikh *Division of Biological Sciences, ICMR-NIOH, Ahmedabad, India.
Poonam Sharma Velamuri *ICMR-RMRC, Dibrugarh, India.
Hem Lata *Discovery Division, ICMR Hqrs, New Delhi, India.
Abhishweta Saxena *DHR, New Delhi, India.
Aanchal Satija *Division of Development Research, ICMR Hqrs, New Delhi, India.
Kh Jitenkumar Singh *Data Centre ICMR Hqrs., New Delhi, India.
Taruna Madan *Division of Development Research, ICMR Hqrs, New Delhi, India.
Jugal Kishore *Department of Community Medicine, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College & Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, India.
Prakash Kanti *Division of Development Research, ICMR Hqrs, New Delhi, India.
Tanu Anand *Division of Development Research, ICMR Hqrs, New Delhi, India.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Introduction: 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. Methods: 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. Results: 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. Discussion: 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.

Indexed as

COVID-19Health PersonnelOccupational HealthFrontline WorkersHumansIndiaOccupational ExposurePandemicsSARS-CoV-2Working ConditionsWorkplaceCOVID-19 pandemicinfection controlmental healthoccupational health and safety (OHS)personal protective equipment (PPE)workplace transmission

Identifiers

PMID42344246
PMCPMC13287014

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.