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. 2024 Aug;67(8):764-771.
doi: 10.1002/ajim.23626. Epub 2024 Jun 10.

Distribution of COVID-19 mitigation measures by industry and work arrangement-US blood donors, May 2021-December 2021

Dallas S Shi  1 , Jessica L Rinsky  1 , Emily McDonald  1 , Melisa M Shah  2 , Matthew R Groenewold  1 , Marie A de Perio  3 , Leora R Feldstein  2 , Sharon Saydah  2 , James M Haynes  4 , Bryan R Spencer  4 , Susan L Stramer  4 , Matthew McCullough  2 , Jefferson M Jones  2 , Sophia K Chiu  1
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Distribution of COVID-19 mitigation measures by industry and work arrangement-US blood donors, May 2021-December 2021

Dallas S Shi et al. Am J Ind Med. 2024 Aug.

Abstract

Objective: To describe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) mitigation measures in workplaces of employed US blood donors by industry and work arrangement.

Methods: During May-December 2021, blood donors responded to a survey; we describe the distribution of reported workplace mitigation measures by industry and work arrangement, organized using the hierarchy of controls.

Results: Of 53,433 respondents representing 21 industries, ventilation upgrades were reported by 4%-38% of respondents (overall: 20%); telework access ranged from 14%-80% (53% overall). Requiring masks (overall: 84%; range: 40%-94%), physical distancing (77%; 51%-86%), paid leave for illness (70%; 38%-87%), and encouraging vaccination (61%; 33%-80%) were common. Independent workers reported fewer mitigation measures than those in traditional employment settings.

Conclusions: Mitigation measures varied by industry and work arrangement. Some mitigation measures may be challenging to implement or irrelevant in certain industries, supporting the idea that mitigation is not a one-size-fits-all strategy.

Policy implications: Tailored strategies to mitigate workplace risks of disease transmission are vital. Strategies should rely on effective methods for identifying workplace controls (e.g., through the hierarchy of controls) and account for industry-specific characteristics and workplace environments.

Keywords: COVID‐19; SARS‐CoV‐2; blood donors; industry; mitigation; work.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure: the authors declare no conflicts of interest

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.. Number of survey responses from American Red Cross blood donors collected and included in the analysis, July 2021–December 2021
* Survey answers on the intake form about COVID-19 did not match serological data
Figure 2.
Figure 2.. Workplace mitigation measures in use at any time since March 2020 by industry group, U.S. Blood Donors, July 2021–December 2021
*≥1 control from each category means one or more engineering control and administrative control and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) or source control were reported to have been implemented at the workplace.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.. Workplace mitigation measures in use at any time since March 2020 by work arrangement, U.S. Blood Donors, July 2021–December 2021
*≥1 control from each category means one or more engineering control and administrative control and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) or source control were reported to have been implemented at the workplace.
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