Impact of COVID-19 on Healthcare Workers in Massachusetts in 2020

Work-related injuries and illnesses among all Massachusetts healthcare workers in 2020 were analyzed using the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) and using employer-recorded data extracted from Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) required injury logs at 29 hospitals where the Massachusetts Nurses Association represented registered nurses. BLS SOII data showed large increases in injury or illness among healthcare practitioners in 2020 compared to the three preceding years, along with substantial increases in lost workdays. Hospital OSHA logs demonstrated an increase in incidents specifically due to exposure to harmful substances (including pathogens), with variation in impact across professional categories, over time, and by geography and hospital size. COVID-19 had a notable impact on recorded incidents affecting healthcare workers in Massachusetts in 2020. Further research is needed to examine whether the lack of protective supplies and personal protective equipment contributed to these increases.