Resilience and Protection of Health Care and Research Laboratory Workers During the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic: Analysis and Case Study From an Austrian High Security Laboratory
The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has highlighted the interdependency of healthcare systems and research organizations on manufacturers and suppliers of personnel protective equipment (PPE) and the need for well-trained personnel who can react quickly to changing working conditions. Reports on challenges face...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-07-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Psychology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.901244/full |
| _version_ | 1818510231481614336 |
|---|---|
| author | Martina Loibner Paul Barach Paul Barach Paul Barach Stella Wolfgruber Christine Langner Verena Stangl Julia Rieger Esther Föderl-Höbenreich Melina Hardt Eva Kicker Silvia Groiss Martin Zacharias Philipp Wurm Gregor Gorkiewicz Peter Regitnig Kurt Zatloukal |
| author_facet | Martina Loibner Paul Barach Paul Barach Paul Barach Stella Wolfgruber Christine Langner Verena Stangl Julia Rieger Esther Föderl-Höbenreich Melina Hardt Eva Kicker Silvia Groiss Martin Zacharias Philipp Wurm Gregor Gorkiewicz Peter Regitnig Kurt Zatloukal |
| author_sort | Martina Loibner |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has highlighted the interdependency of healthcare systems and research organizations on manufacturers and suppliers of personnel protective equipment (PPE) and the need for well-trained personnel who can react quickly to changing working conditions. Reports on challenges faced by research laboratory workers (RLWs) are rare in contrast to the lived experience of hospital health care workers. We report on experiences gained by RLWs (e.g., molecular scientists, pathologists, autopsy assistants) who significantly contributed to combating the pandemic under particularly challenging conditions due to increased workload, sickness and interrupted PPE supply chains. RLWs perform a broad spectrum of work with SARS-CoV-2 such as autopsies, establishment of virus cultures and infection models, development and verification of diagnostics, performance of virus inactivation assays to investigate various antiviral agents including vaccines and evaluation of decontamination technologies in high containment biological laboratories (HCBL). Performance of autopsies and laboratory work increased substantially during the pandemic and thus led to highly demanding working conditions with working shifts of more than eight hours working in PPE that stressed individual limits and also the ergonomic and safety limits of PPE. We provide detailed insights into the challenges of the stressful daily laboratory routine since the pandemic began, lessons learned, and suggest solutions for better safety based on a case study of a newly established HCBL (i.e., BSL-3 laboratory) designed for autopsies and research laboratory work. Reduced personal risk, increased resilience, and stress resistance can be achieved by improved PPE components, better training, redundant safety measures, inculcating a culture of safety, and excellent teamwork |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T22:56:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5851fbe5a6954013b04e3ce853786881 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-1078 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T22:56:28Z |
| publishDate | 2022-07-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj.art-5851fbe5a6954013b04e3ce8537868812022-12-22T01:30:15ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782022-07-011310.3389/fpsyg.2022.901244901244Resilience and Protection of Health Care and Research Laboratory Workers During the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic: Analysis and Case Study From an Austrian High Security LaboratoryMartina Loibner0Paul Barach1Paul Barach2Paul Barach3Stella Wolfgruber4Christine Langner5Verena Stangl6Julia Rieger7Esther Föderl-Höbenreich8Melina Hardt9Eva Kicker10Silvia Groiss11Martin Zacharias12Philipp Wurm13Gregor Gorkiewicz14Peter Regitnig15Kurt Zatloukal16Diagnostic and Research Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, AustriaDiagnostic and Research Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, AustriaCollege of Population Health, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United StatesSchool of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, AustraliaDiagnostic and Research Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, AustriaDiagnostic and Research Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, AustriaDiagnostic and Research Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, AustriaDiagnostic and Research Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, AustriaDiagnostic and Research Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, AustriaDiagnostic and Research Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, AustriaDiagnostic and Research Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, AustriaDiagnostic and Research Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, AustriaDiagnostic and Research Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, AustriaDiagnostic and Research Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, AustriaDiagnostic and Research Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, AustriaDiagnostic and Research Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, AustriaDiagnostic and Research Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, AustriaThe SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has highlighted the interdependency of healthcare systems and research organizations on manufacturers and suppliers of personnel protective equipment (PPE) and the need for well-trained personnel who can react quickly to changing working conditions. Reports on challenges faced by research laboratory workers (RLWs) are rare in contrast to the lived experience of hospital health care workers. We report on experiences gained by RLWs (e.g., molecular scientists, pathologists, autopsy assistants) who significantly contributed to combating the pandemic under particularly challenging conditions due to increased workload, sickness and interrupted PPE supply chains. RLWs perform a broad spectrum of work with SARS-CoV-2 such as autopsies, establishment of virus cultures and infection models, development and verification of diagnostics, performance of virus inactivation assays to investigate various antiviral agents including vaccines and evaluation of decontamination technologies in high containment biological laboratories (HCBL). Performance of autopsies and laboratory work increased substantially during the pandemic and thus led to highly demanding working conditions with working shifts of more than eight hours working in PPE that stressed individual limits and also the ergonomic and safety limits of PPE. We provide detailed insights into the challenges of the stressful daily laboratory routine since the pandemic began, lessons learned, and suggest solutions for better safety based on a case study of a newly established HCBL (i.e., BSL-3 laboratory) designed for autopsies and research laboratory work. Reduced personal risk, increased resilience, and stress resistance can be achieved by improved PPE components, better training, redundant safety measures, inculcating a culture of safety, and excellent teamworkhttps://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.901244/fullSARS-CoV-2COVID-19 pandemicresearch laboratory workersbiosafety level-3 (BSL-3)personal protective equipment (PPE)occupational challenges |
| spellingShingle | Martina Loibner Paul Barach Paul Barach Paul Barach Stella Wolfgruber Christine Langner Verena Stangl Julia Rieger Esther Föderl-Höbenreich Melina Hardt Eva Kicker Silvia Groiss Martin Zacharias Philipp Wurm Gregor Gorkiewicz Peter Regitnig Kurt Zatloukal Resilience and Protection of Health Care and Research Laboratory Workers During the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic: Analysis and Case Study From an Austrian High Security Laboratory Frontiers in Psychology SARS-CoV-2 COVID-19 pandemic research laboratory workers biosafety level-3 (BSL-3) personal protective equipment (PPE) occupational challenges |
| title | Resilience and Protection of Health Care and Research Laboratory Workers During the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic: Analysis and Case Study From an Austrian High Security Laboratory |
| title_full | Resilience and Protection of Health Care and Research Laboratory Workers During the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic: Analysis and Case Study From an Austrian High Security Laboratory |
| title_fullStr | Resilience and Protection of Health Care and Research Laboratory Workers During the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic: Analysis and Case Study From an Austrian High Security Laboratory |
| title_full_unstemmed | Resilience and Protection of Health Care and Research Laboratory Workers During the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic: Analysis and Case Study From an Austrian High Security Laboratory |
| title_short | Resilience and Protection of Health Care and Research Laboratory Workers During the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic: Analysis and Case Study From an Austrian High Security Laboratory |
| title_sort | resilience and protection of health care and research laboratory workers during the sars cov 2 pandemic analysis and case study from an austrian high security laboratory |
| topic | SARS-CoV-2 COVID-19 pandemic research laboratory workers biosafety level-3 (BSL-3) personal protective equipment (PPE) occupational challenges |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.901244/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT martinaloibner resilienceandprotectionofhealthcareandresearchlaboratoryworkersduringthesarscov2pandemicanalysisandcasestudyfromanaustrianhighsecuritylaboratory AT paulbarach resilienceandprotectionofhealthcareandresearchlaboratoryworkersduringthesarscov2pandemicanalysisandcasestudyfromanaustrianhighsecuritylaboratory AT paulbarach resilienceandprotectionofhealthcareandresearchlaboratoryworkersduringthesarscov2pandemicanalysisandcasestudyfromanaustrianhighsecuritylaboratory AT paulbarach resilienceandprotectionofhealthcareandresearchlaboratoryworkersduringthesarscov2pandemicanalysisandcasestudyfromanaustrianhighsecuritylaboratory AT stellawolfgruber resilienceandprotectionofhealthcareandresearchlaboratoryworkersduringthesarscov2pandemicanalysisandcasestudyfromanaustrianhighsecuritylaboratory AT christinelangner resilienceandprotectionofhealthcareandresearchlaboratoryworkersduringthesarscov2pandemicanalysisandcasestudyfromanaustrianhighsecuritylaboratory AT verenastangl resilienceandprotectionofhealthcareandresearchlaboratoryworkersduringthesarscov2pandemicanalysisandcasestudyfromanaustrianhighsecuritylaboratory AT juliarieger resilienceandprotectionofhealthcareandresearchlaboratoryworkersduringthesarscov2pandemicanalysisandcasestudyfromanaustrianhighsecuritylaboratory AT estherfoderlhobenreich resilienceandprotectionofhealthcareandresearchlaboratoryworkersduringthesarscov2pandemicanalysisandcasestudyfromanaustrianhighsecuritylaboratory AT melinahardt resilienceandprotectionofhealthcareandresearchlaboratoryworkersduringthesarscov2pandemicanalysisandcasestudyfromanaustrianhighsecuritylaboratory AT evakicker resilienceandprotectionofhealthcareandresearchlaboratoryworkersduringthesarscov2pandemicanalysisandcasestudyfromanaustrianhighsecuritylaboratory AT silviagroiss resilienceandprotectionofhealthcareandresearchlaboratoryworkersduringthesarscov2pandemicanalysisandcasestudyfromanaustrianhighsecuritylaboratory AT martinzacharias resilienceandprotectionofhealthcareandresearchlaboratoryworkersduringthesarscov2pandemicanalysisandcasestudyfromanaustrianhighsecuritylaboratory AT philippwurm resilienceandprotectionofhealthcareandresearchlaboratoryworkersduringthesarscov2pandemicanalysisandcasestudyfromanaustrianhighsecuritylaboratory AT gregorgorkiewicz resilienceandprotectionofhealthcareandresearchlaboratoryworkersduringthesarscov2pandemicanalysisandcasestudyfromanaustrianhighsecuritylaboratory AT peterregitnig resilienceandprotectionofhealthcareandresearchlaboratoryworkersduringthesarscov2pandemicanalysisandcasestudyfromanaustrianhighsecuritylaboratory AT kurtzatloukal resilienceandprotectionofhealthcareandresearchlaboratoryworkersduringthesarscov2pandemicanalysisandcasestudyfromanaustrianhighsecuritylaboratory |