Assessment of COVID-19 barrier effectiveness using process safety techniques

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health and Safety
• Epidemiology
• Risk Management

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by SARS-CoV-2, presented significant public health challenges globally.
• Effective hazard analysis and control strategies are crucial for mitigating infectious disease transmission in various settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To apply Bow tie analysis (BTA) to assess SARS-CoV-2 hazards across different occupational and healthcare settings.
• To evaluate existing COVID-19 control measures and recommend improvements using an inherently safer design (ISD) protocol.
• To develop communication tools for disseminating findings and providing guidance for current and future pandemics.

Main Methods:

• Bow tie analysis (BTA) was employed to systematically evaluate the risks associated with SARS-CoV-2.
• An inherently safer design (ISD) framework guided the assessment of existing barriers and the proposal of additional controls.
• Case studies included healthcare settings (IWK Health Centre), industrial facilities (BCFSC wood pellet plant), and refineries (Suncor).

Main Results:

• BTA identified specific hazards and control deficiencies for patient/family members and staff in acute care, wood pellet facilities, and refineries.
• The study recommended additional COVID-19 controls tailored to the assessed environments.
• Two communication tools were developed based on the IWK Health Centre BTA to share research findings effectively.

Conclusions:

• The research provides practical lessons on implementing effective barriers against COVID-19 transmission.
• Bow tie diagrams are effective tools for communicating complex risk information and guiding safety interventions.
• Further application of BTA, ISD principles, and human/organizational factors analysis is recommended for future pandemic preparedness.