Policy Brief: recomendaciones para la formulación de políticas públicas sobre la exposición ocupacional a contaminantes biológicos y radiación ionizante en trabajadores de la salud[Policy Brief: Recommendations for Public Policy Formulation of Occupational Exposure to Biological Contaminants and Ionizing Radiation in Health Care Workers]

The Centro de Pensamiento Trabajo Decente, Salud Laboral y Calidad de Vida, was born from the debate and reflection around the improvement of labor conditions of the working population. In the period 2019-2021 showed an increase in the incidence of occupational disease and death associated with diseases in health workers, mainly, by COVID-19. Health sector workers are occupationally exposed to different occupational risk factors, among which occupational exposure to ionizing radiation and biological agents stands out. The qualification of the origin of a disease is a process that includes technical-scientific and legal aspects and is carried out when an occupational disease is not considered direct. It is proposed to include occupational diseases described in Executive Order 1477 of 2014 caused by occupational exposure to ionizing radiation as direct occupational diseases and diseases caused by occupational exposure to biological agents by presumption of legality in health workers who perform their work activities in the care and community setting, as long as there is direct contact with patients. The above, taking into account the scientific evidence existing at present and for the purpose of eliminating the administrative barriers by qualification of origin that are present. The recognition of a direct occupational disease based on scientific evidence allows the reduction of administrative barriers for the qualification of the origin of a disease, as is currently the case with COVID-19 in health workers involved in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of this disease. Health care workers are exposed to biological agents in their workplaces, which is why it is necessary to recognize the presumption of legality of diseases caused by biological risk factors.