The Impact of COVID-19 on Transit Workers: Perceptions of Employer Responses and Associations with Health Factors. Issue 3 (8th October 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rice, Sean P M; Greenspan, Leah S; Bauer, Talya N; Rimby, Jarred; Bodner, Todd E; Olson, Ryan
• Is Part Of: Annals of work exposures and health. Volume 66:Issue 3(2022)
• Page Start: 334
• Page End: 347
• Publication Date: 2021-10-08
• Subjects: COVID-19 risk perceptions -- employer COVID-19 safety practices -- occupational safety and health -- safety communication -- transit workers -- transportation; Medicine, Industrial -- Periodicals; Industrial hygiene -- Periodicals; 613.6205
• DOI: 10.1093/annweh/wxab080
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2398-7316

Abstract

Abstract: COVID-19 has had a substantial impact on transit workers' lives, especially among public-facing vehicle operators. The current project examined relationships between workers' knowledge and perceptions of their employer's COVID-19 safety responses, job attitudes, and health. We surveyed transit workers ( N = 174) between July and August 2020 and followed up 3 months later. Fifty-seven workers responded to the follow-up survey. Surveys addressed workers' knowledge and perceptions of their employer implementing Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)-recommended COVID-19 safety responses, COVID-19 risk perceptions, job attitudes, and health factors. Employees reported knowledge of their employer implementing ~8 of 12 CDC-recommended responses. The most reported response was informational poster placements; the least reported was designating a point-person for COVID-19 concerns. Significant associations were found between knowledge of employer safety responses and lower COVID-19 risk perceptions, better job attitudes, and greater mental and global health. Operators (i.e. public-facing workers) reported worse perceptions of employer responses, and higher COVID-19 risk perceptions, work stress, and turnover intentions, compared with non-operators. A time-lagged panel model found that COVID-19 risk perceptions significantly mediated the relationship between public-facing work status and follow-up depression, anxiety, stress, and global health. Results reveal opportunities for transit authorities to broaden and better communicate their responses to emergent occupational safety and health crises.