<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><!DOCTYPE article  PUBLIC "-//NLM//DTD Journal Publishing DTD v3.0 20080202//EN" "http://dtd.nlm.nih.gov/publishing/3.0/journalpublishing3.dtd"><article xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" dtd-version="3.0" xml:lang="en" article-type="research article"><front><journal-meta><journal-id journal-id-type="publisher-id">ODEM</journal-id><journal-title-group><journal-title>Occupational Diseases and Environmental Medicine</journal-title></journal-title-group><issn pub-type="epub">2333-3561</issn><publisher><publisher-name>Scientific Research Publishing</publisher-name></publisher></journal-meta><article-meta><article-id pub-id-type="doi">10.4236/odem.2020.83008</article-id><article-id pub-id-type="publisher-id">ODEM-101968</article-id><article-categories><subj-group subj-group-type="heading"><subject>Articles</subject></subj-group><subj-group subj-group-type="Discipline-v2"><subject>Medicine&amp;Healthcare</subject></subj-group></article-categories><title-group><article-title>
 
 
  Proposed Protocol for Risk Assessment and Stratification
 
</article-title></title-group><contrib-group><contrib contrib-type="author" xlink:type="simple"><name name-style="western"><surname>Teófila</surname><given-names>Vicente-Herrero</given-names></name><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff1"><sup>1</sup></xref><xref ref-type="corresp" rid="cor1"><sup>*</sup></xref></contrib><contrib contrib-type="author" xlink:type="simple"><name name-style="western"><surname>Victoria</surname><given-names>Ramírez Iñiguez de la Torre</given-names></name><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff2"><sup>2</sup></xref></contrib><contrib contrib-type="author" xlink:type="simple"><name name-style="western"><surname>Teresa</surname><given-names>del Campo Balsa</given-names></name><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff3"><sup>3</sup></xref></contrib><contrib contrib-type="author" xlink:type="simple"><name name-style="western"><surname>Luis</surname><given-names>Reinoso Barbero</given-names></name><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff4"><sup>4</sup></xref></contrib><contrib contrib-type="author" xlink:type="simple"><name name-style="western"><surname>Alejandro</surname><given-names>Fernández Montero</given-names></name><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff5"><sup>5</sup></xref></contrib><contrib contrib-type="author" xlink:type="simple"><name name-style="western"><surname>Juan</surname><given-names>Carlos Rueda Garrido</given-names></name><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff6"><sup>6</sup></xref></contrib></contrib-group><aff id="aff5"><addr-line>Department of Occupational Medicine, Universidad de Navarra, Navarra, Spain</addr-line></aff><aff id="aff3"><addr-line>Department of Occupational and Prevention at University Hospital Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain</addr-line></aff><aff id="aff4"><addr-line>Occupational Medicine Service Grupo Banco Santander, Madrid, Spain</addr-line></aff><aff id="aff2"><addr-line>Occupational Health and Safety Services of Correos, Albacete, Spain</addr-line></aff><aff id="aff1"><addr-line>Occupational Health and Safety Services of Correos, Valencia, Spain</addr-line></aff><aff id="aff6"><addr-line>SABIC Medical Services, Cartagena, Spain</addr-line></aff><pub-date pub-type="epub"><day>15</day><month>07</month><year>2020</year></pub-date><volume>08</volume><issue>03</issue><fpage>99</fpage><lpage>110</lpage><history><date date-type="received"><day>1,</day>	<month>July</month>	<year>2020</year></date><date date-type="rev-recd"><day>2,</day>	<month>August</month>	<year>2020</year>	</date><date date-type="accepted"><day>5,</day>	<month>August</month>	<year>2020</year></date></history><permissions><copyright-statement>&#169; Copyright  2014 by authors and Scientific Research Publishing Inc. </copyright-statement><copyright-year>2014</copyright-year><license><license-p>This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution International License (CC BY). http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/</license-p></license></permissions><abstract><p>
 
 
  Introduction: COVID-19 disease is a highly contagious viral infection caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. There is growing interest in Public Health and Occupational Health in identifying the COVID-19 prognostic factors, needed to stratified patients by risk being necessary to consider occupational variables as well as individual and clinical factors of the workers. 
  Objective: The aim of this study was to perform a tool to identify the more vulnerable workers for COVID-19 that will be useful to value their work limitations. 
  Methods: A review of medical literature about the vulnerability for COVID-19 is taken into account occupational risks and occupational preventive measures. 
  Results: It is proposed an index of vulnerability criteria for COVID-19 in workers based on quantifying individual characteristics, pre-existing medical conditions and its control, high risk of occupational exposure, and prevention and protection strategies in the workplace. The final result is stratified into three degrees of vulnerability that will serve to propose the most appropriate preventive measures. 
  Conclusion: This proposal protocol assesses about the vulnerability for COVID-19 infection in workers to help decide the preventive management at workplace in this pandemic situation.
 
</p></abstract><kwd-group><kwd>COVID-19</kwd><kwd> Vulnerability</kwd><kwd> Occupational Health</kwd><kwd> Occupational Medicine</kwd></kwd-group></article-meta></front><body><sec id="s1"><title>1. Introduction</title><p>SARS-CoV-2 pandemic (COVID-19) has generated a growing interest in Public Health, with the urge to define individual risk factors, in order to detect patients who could progress to severe or life-threatening illnesses. In the field of Occupational Health, it is necessary to stratified workers according to their risk or vulnerability, taking into account not only the classical clinical factors but also occupational-related variables and socio-demographic factors [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.101968-ref1">1</xref>].</p><p>The job characteristics, and how the worker interacts with other people or other workers, can be translated into an increased risk of infection, making the worker a potential transmission of the virus in his community. Therefore, an early detection of outbreaks in work-environments, by assessing and quantifying the risk of contagious in a specific high risk workplace or occupational group, can help improve risk management in Public and Occupational Health and can be useful in preventing subsequent COVID-19 outbreaks. The work-environment is key to health interventions, which could protect both workers and the general population [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.101968-ref2">2</xref>].</p><p>A worker’s vulnerability is defined as the probability of being affected by a substance or risk greater than the normal probability based on age and sex, either as a result of a higher susceptibility to infection or a higher level of exposure. In COVID-19 a worker high vulnerability will include a greater risk of infection and a greater probability of serious consequences in case of COVID-19 infection [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.101968-ref3">3</xref>].</p><p>The concept of COVID-19 vulnerability is changeable. A worker might not be considered as vulnerable at the beginning of the pandemic, but he may become vulnerable due to health, social or job-changes. Age and previous health problems, including mental problems and comorbidities are considered classical clinical risk factors [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.101968-ref4">4</xref>]. Previous studies have estimated the risk for different occupations [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.101968-ref5">5</xref>], including in some studies, the risk evaluation of up to 100 different work-environments, taking into account three aspects: physical contact, proximity and exposure to the disease [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.101968-ref6">6</xref>].</p><p>The objective of this work is to establish criteria to assess worker vulnerability against COVID-19 infection and to quantify them to establish different levels of vulnerability. Vulnerability score will be useful to apply efficiently the appropriate preventive measures.</p></sec><sec id="s2"><title>2. Methods</title><p>Before the inclusion of variables in the tool, a scientific literature review was performed For the bibliographic review and selection of the literature, an exhaustive search of the COVID-19 concept and its relationship with the world of work is carried out, especially with the limitation of the worker, with the identification of the diseases related to the pandemic by their proper names. The search is carried out in Medline through the PubMed platform (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/), free access and with extensive international coverage. The search period is limited to the last two years and specifically to the last year and also includes classified journal articles (editorials, originals, letters, reviews, clinical notes). Are used the search terms: “COVID-19 and workplace”; “COVID-19 and occupational risk”; “COVID-19 and occupational preventive measures”; “COVID-19 and Occupational Health”; “COVID-19 and “vulnerability” and “COVID-19 and chronic diseases”.</p><p>Based on these reviews, we included in the protocol as elements to assess vulnerability: age, gender; previous comorbidities: diabetes, hypertension, obesity, smoking, cardiovascular diseases, coagulation disorders, chronic lung and liver disease, immune and autoimmune disorders, rheumatic diseases, inflammatory bowel diseases, cancer and major surgery; labor sectors and risk conditions and finally, the company’s preventive situation: use of protective equipment, preventive training, health surveillance and job change options. Each of these aspects is scored to obtain a total result that is stratified into degrees of aspects.</p></sec><sec id="s3"><title>3. Protocol</title><p>Based on the current evidence and acknowledging that we are in a constantly changing situation, the following evaluation parameters were included in this protocol.</p><sec id="s3_1"><title>3.1. Individual Risk Factors Related to COVID-19 Vulnerability</title><p>Age: people over 60 years old, especially those over 70 years old [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.101968-ref7">7</xref>] are at higher risk.</p><p>Pregnancy: Current information on the impact of COVID-19 on pregnant women and fetuses shows that the probability of developing a serious clinical presentation is similar to that of the general population [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.101968-ref8">8</xref>]. Nevertheless, it is necessary to be cautious in decision-making in pregnant working women, especially in high risk work sectors, such as health workers [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.101968-ref9">9</xref>].</p><p>Gender: No clear differences have been detected between men and women. In Spain, the mortality rate in men is slightly higher [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.101968-ref10">10</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.101968-ref11">11</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.101968-ref12">12</xref>].</p></sec><sec id="s3_2"><title>3.2. Previous Comorbidity to Related to Vulnerability COVID-19</title><p>The presence of previous comorbidities has been clearly related to an increase in COVID-19 mortality rate [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.101968-ref13">13</xref>]. Previous health conditions related to high risk include: 1) recent cancer diagnosis or cancer being treated at the time of infection [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.101968-ref14">14</xref>]; 2) cardiovascular disease or coagulation disorders which have been associated with multiple direct and indirect cardiovascular complications [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.101968-ref15">15</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.101968-ref16">16</xref>] or 3) diabetes which has been related to severe pneumonia and increased mortality [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.101968-ref17">17</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.101968-ref18">18</xref>]; 4) obesity, especially if BMI &gt; 40 has also been related with higher mortality from COVID-19 [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.101968-ref19">19</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.101968-ref20">20</xref>]. The most frequent comorbidities detected in severely infected patients are: hypertension, obesity and diabetes [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.101968-ref21">21</xref>]; 5) moderate to severe asthma, has been associated with increased severity of infection and asthma nebulizer treatments should be avoided due to the risk of aerosolization [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.101968-ref22">22</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.101968-ref23">23</xref>]; 6) other conditions include: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, with rapid deterioration of lung function respiratory failure [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.101968-ref24">24</xref>]; 7) tobacco use [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.101968-ref25">25</xref>]; 8) chronic liver involvement. Hyperinflammatory reactions may contribute to the development of liver injury post COVID-19 [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.101968-ref26">26</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.101968-ref27">27</xref>]; 9) immunity disorders have also been considered a risk factor for COVID-19 [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.101968-ref28">28</xref>] including a very heterogeneous group with multiple underlying causes and degrees of immune alteration. Immunosuppression can be associated with a disease or secondary to prescribed treatments.</p></sec><sec id="s3_3"><title>3.3. Disease Control and Response to Prescribed Therapies</title><p>To assess risk related to previous comorbidities, it is necessary to consider not only the disease itself, but also the level of disease control achieved over the last year, the need of therapeutic adjustments, the response to treatments, the number of acute-events or exacerbations requiring hospital admissions or urgent care visits, and sickness absence in the last year.</p></sec><sec id="s3_4"><title>3.4. Occupational Risks Related to COVID-19 Vulnerability</title><p>When assessing worker vulnerability to COVID-19, some sectors are considered to be of highest risk, specifically those works in relation to public attention. The prevention measures placed against infection (collective and individual) must also be taken into account [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.101968-ref29">29</xref>].</p><p>Healthcare workers. Recognized high risk. Rigorous preventive procedures and protective measures are recommended to guarantee the operation of the basic medical care system [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.101968-ref30">30</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.101968-ref31">31</xref>] [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.101968-ref32">32</xref>].</p><p>Social health workers. Including workers of nursing homes and social services, in this case, the high vulnerability of the people they work for and care for requires very rigorous control and monitoring of these workers [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.101968-ref33">33</xref>].</p><p>Security Forces. In risk situations such as the current one, they may be in contact with symptomatic people and need specific strict protection measures.</p></sec><sec id="s3_5"><title>3.5. Preventive Management at the Workplace Related to COVID-19 Vulnerability</title><p>It is an essential aspect in the assessment, the preventive management of companies and the integration of preventive measures in the organization.</p><p>Specific protocols for infection prevention and control within the company should be developed. Collective protection measures, such as separation of work places or barrier or protection elements to promote social distancing should be implemented. Individual protections such as face-masks, respirators, screens, or gloves, based on the knowledge of each different mask protective factor should be provided [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.101968-ref34">34</xref>]. Areas for frequent hand washing and/or hydroalcoholic gel should be available. Preventive training actions and specific information sessions about the infection and the general preventive measures should be implemented by the company. Specific health surveillance and health actions based on the risk of contagion: assessment of vulnerable workers and detection and monitoring of cases and contacts. In workers when their own safety or third parties cannot be guaranteed with preventive measures, the option of a change in working conditions should be offered.</p><p>Proposed protocol for risk assessment and stratification</p><p>To quantify the risk and help support subsequent preventive decisions, we propose the methodology attached in <xref ref-type="fig" rid="fig1">Figure 1</xref>. The assigned score is shown in Tables 1-4 with an alternative option of using a computerized database to</p><table-wrap id="table1" ><label><xref ref-type="table" rid="table1">Table 1</xref></label><caption><title> Individual risk factors related to COVID-19 vulnerability</title></caption><table><tbody><thead><tr><th align="center" valign="middle"  colspan="2"  ></th><th align="center" valign="middle" >Score</th></tr></thead><tr><td align="center" valign="middle"  rowspan="3"  >Age</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >&lt;60 years</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >60 - 65 years</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >≥66 years</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle"  rowspan="3"  >Gender</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Man</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Non-pregnant woman</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Pregnant woman</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle"  colspan="2"  >Total score of individual risk factors</td><td align="center" valign="middle" ></td></tr></tbody></table></table-wrap><table-wrap-group id="2"><label><xref ref-type="table" rid="table2">Table 2</xref></label><caption><title> Previous comorbidity and its control related to COVID-19 vulnerability</title></caption><table-wrap id="2_1"><table><tbody><thead><tr><th align="center" valign="middle"  colspan="2"  ></th><th align="center" valign="middle" >Score</th></tr></thead><tr><td align="center" valign="middle"  rowspan="3"  >Diabetes</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Not applicable</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Compensated/controlled</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Uncompensated/uncontrolled</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle"  rowspan="3"  >Hypertension</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Not applicable</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Compensated/controlled</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Uncompensated/uncontrolled</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle"  rowspan="3"  >Obesity</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >BMI &lt; 30</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >BMI 30 - 40</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >BMI &gt; 40</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle"  rowspan="2"  >Tobacco/nicotine use</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >No</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Yes</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle"  rowspan="3"  >Cardiovascular disease</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Not applicable</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Compensated/controlled</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Uncompensated/uncontrolled</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle"  rowspan="3"  >Diseases with impaired coagulation</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Not applicable</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Compensated/controlled</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Uncompensated/uncontrolled</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle"  rowspan="3"  >Chronic lung disease</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Not applicable</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Compensated/controlled</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Uncompensated/uncontrolled</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle"  rowspan="3"  >Chronic liver disease</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Not applicable</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Compensated/controlled</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Uncompensated/uncontrolled</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle"  rowspan="3"  >Immunosuppressed diseases</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Not applicable</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Compensated/controlled</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Uncompensated/uncontrolled</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle"  rowspan="3"  >Rheumatic/autoimmune disease</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Not applicable</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Without risk treatment</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >With risk treatment</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle"  rowspan="3"  >Chronic inflammatory bowel disease</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Not applicable</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Without risk treatment</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >With risk treatment</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2</td></tr></tbody></table></table-wrap><table-wrap id="2_2"><table><tbody><thead><tr><th align="center" valign="middle"  rowspan="4"  >C&#225;ncer</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >Not applicable</th><th align="center" valign="middle" >0</th></tr></thead><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Without treatment or sequelae from &gt; 1 year</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >With treatment up to &lt;1 year</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >With current treatment or sequelae</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >3</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle"  rowspan="4"  >Major surgery</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Not applicable</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Without treatment or sequelae from &gt; 1 year</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >With treatment up to &lt;1 year</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >With current treatment or sequelae</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >3</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle"  colspan="2"  >Total score of previous comorbidities</td><td align="center" valign="middle" ></td></tr></tbody></table></table-wrap></table-wrap-group><table-wrap id="table3" ><label><xref ref-type="table" rid="table3">Table 3</xref></label><caption><title> Occupational risks related to COVID-19 vulnerability</title></caption><table><tbody><thead><tr><th align="center" valign="middle"  colspan="3"  ></th><th align="center" valign="middle" >Score</th></tr></thead><tr><td align="center" valign="middle"  rowspan="4"  >Health sector</td><td align="center" valign="middle"  rowspan="2"  >Risk level 1 - 2* Risk level 1: Similar to community risk. Tasks in non-COVID areas, both healthcare and strategic support. Risk level 2: Entry into COVID areas, tasks with suspected or confirmed patients, distance retention and direct security on the patient, for example, food delivery, cleaning, transfer of the patient, etc.</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >with rigorous compliance with preventive measures</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >with partial or total non-compliance with preventive measures</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle"  rowspan="2"  >Risk level 3 - 4* Risk level 3: Entry into COVID areas with direct assistance to patients or direct intervention with suspected or confirmed cases, and without maintaining the safety distance, including patient mobilization and cleanliness. Risk level: Professionals, healthcare or non-healthcare, who must perform aerosol-generating maneuvers (CPR, intubation, extubation, etc.)</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >with rigorous compliance with preventive measures</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >3</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >with partial or total non-compliance with preventive measures</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >4</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle"  colspan="2"   rowspan="2"  >Social health workers. Including workers of nursing homes and social services</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >With rigorous compliance with preventive measures</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Con Incumplimiento parcial o total de las medidas preventivas</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle"  colspan="2"   rowspan="2"  >State security forces and firefighters</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >With rigorous compliance with preventive measures</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >With partial or total breach of preventive measures</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle"  colspan="2"   rowspan="2"  >Cleaning or maintenance personnel working in areas with patients COVID-19</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >With rigorous compliance with preventive measures</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >With partial or total breach of preventive measures</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle"  colspan="2"   rowspan="2"  >Social services personnel serving the community or dependent persons</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >With rigorous compliance with preventive measures</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >With partial or total breach of preventive measures</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle"  colspan="2"   rowspan="2"  >Personnel with habitual relationship with possible cases (continuous attention to the public)</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >With rigorous compliance with preventive measures</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >With partial or total breach of preventive measures</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle"  colspan="2"   rowspan="2"  >Staff with sporadic relationship with possible cases (non-continuous/sporadic attention to the public)</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >With rigorous compliance with preventive measures</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >With partial or total breach of preventive measures</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >2</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle"  colspan="2"  >Personnel unrelated to possible cases (isolated or individual work)</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >No need for specific preventive measures (hygienic)</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle"  colspan="3"  >Total score of occupational risks</td><td align="center" valign="middle" ></td></tr></tbody></table></table-wrap><p>*Risk Level Health sector (ref. Procedimiento de Actuaci&#243;n para los Servicios de Prevenci&#243;n de Riesgos Laborales frente a la exposici&#243;n al SARS-COV-2. Disponible en: https://www.mscbs.gob.es/profesionales/saludPublica/ccayes/alertasActual/nCov-China/documentos/Proteccion_Trabajadores_SARS-CoV-2.pdf).</p><table-wrap id="table4" ><label><xref ref-type="table" rid="table4">Table 4</xref></label><caption><title> Preventive management at the workplace related to COVID-19 vulnerability</title></caption><table><tbody><thead><tr><th align="center" valign="middle"  colspan="2"  ></th><th align="center" valign="middle" >Score</th></tr></thead><tr><td align="center" valign="middle"  rowspan="2"  >Availability of Barrier Elements-PPE</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Total availability</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >No availability or partial availability</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle"  rowspan="2"  >Preventive training</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Regular and certified specific training and information</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Irregular and/or non-protocol specific training and information</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle"  rowspan="2"  >Health Surveillance</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Specific regular and protocolized health surveillance</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Specific surveillance of irregular and/or non-protocolized health</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle"  rowspan="2"  >Option to modify the conditions of the position and/or job change options if necessary</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >Possible or not necessary</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >0</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Not possible or incomplete</td><td align="center" valign="middle" >1</td></tr><tr><td align="center" valign="middle" >Total score preventive management at the workplace</td><td align="center" valign="middle" ></td><td align="center" valign="middle" ></td></tr></tbody></table></table-wrap><p>streamline the process.</p><p>This is a proposal of protocol which has not been yet validated.</p></sec></sec><sec id="s4"><title>4. Discussion</title><p>Research related to the COVID 19 pandemic has led to a breakthrough in concepts that have been modified as the disease itself has done and its impact and evolution have been known. In the world of work, worker protection and transmission prevention mechanisms have been established, and have remarkably increased for workers considered as vulnerable, following official criteria established by the health authorities [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.101968-ref35">35</xref>]. There are no similar protocols in the current literature to serve as a comparison, although the previously mentioned work by Marcus Lu partially addresses this topic, focusing on the risk from exposure of 100 well-known types of work and on a score based on three aspects: contact with others, physical proximity and risk of exposure to infection. In the protocol that we present here, 27 variables and subvariables are included, making it a comprehensive assessment of the worker and their work environment to determine the degree of vulnerability to COVID-19, which we hope can demonstrate its usefulness in subsequent testing, which is already taking place.</p></sec><sec id="s5"><title>5. Preventive Recommendations</title><p>The main preventive recommendation regarding the protection of workers especially vulnerable to COVID-19 infection is to reduce exposure to risk:</p><p>&#183; Conducting correct epidemiological surveillance based on the follow-up of cases and contacts that allows the early detection and control of infections in a coordinated way between occupational, primary, hospital health and public health organizations.</p><p>&#183; Applying, within the scope of the specific powers of the Prevention Services, all the technical and health measures aimed at reducing the probability of contagion or limiting its consequences through: 1) training and specific information for workers and the implementation of prevention plans defined against COVID in companies; 2) adoption of organizational and preventive measures, both collective and individual, specific to COVID-19; 3) implementation of health surveillance procedures aimed at detection and protection of workers especially vulnerable to infection and the early management of possible cases in the workplace, especially in sectors of higher risk of contagion such as health and social health.</p><p>When the vulnerability of the worker recommends it, the change of job and the modifications in the working conditions would be the preventive priority options, with, if this was not possible, the medical leave for illness as a second option.</p></sec><sec id="s6"><title>6. Conclusions</title><p>COVID-19 pandemic has created an enormous Public Health challenge and it has specifically affected work environments, with important Occupational Health repercussions. Acting based on preventive measures, each worker’s vulnerability needs to be assessed and quantified.</p><p>For this vulnerability evaluation, a general approach including sociodemographic, clinical and labor variables is proposed, following the World Health Organization recommendation: “think innovatively and lead the promotion of health and risk prevention within the Public Health field, obtaining accurate information to prepare and reduce risk in affected people, their families, and their community [<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="scirp.101968-ref36">36</xref>] ”.</p><p>Our protocol quantifies occupational risks and preventive business management as well as individual risk factors, previous comorbidities and disease control. The combined sum of all of them will allow quantifying individual vulnerability score and guide subsequent preventive actions in Occupational Health.</p></sec><sec id="s7"><title>Conflicts of Interest</title><p>The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper.</p></sec><sec id="s8"><title>Cite this paper</title><p>Vicente-Herrero, T., de la Torre, V.R.I., del Campo Balsa, T., Barbero, L.R., Montero, A.F. and Garrido, J.C.R. (2020) Proposed Protocol for Risk Assessment and Stratification. Occupational Diseases and Environmental Medicine, 8, 99-110. https://doi.org/10.4236/odem.2020.83008</p></sec></body><back><ref-list><title>References</title><ref id="scirp.101968-ref1"><label>1</label><mixed-citation publication-type="other" xlink:type="simple">Tran, B.X., et al. (2020) Characterize Health and Economic Vulnerabilities of Workers to Control the Emergence of Covid-19 in an Industrial Zone in Vietnam. 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