The Pandemic and Its Impact on Health and Safety Legislation and Enforcement Mechanisms

Abstract

This paper examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on health and safety legislation and enforcement mechanisms, focusing on organizational accountability, workplace practices, and regulatory innovations. Using secondary research and analysis of recent literature, the study highlights five major findings. First, organizational liability frameworks were exposed as inadequate, with hospitals and workplaces facing legal scrutiny for compliance failures. Second, telework created widespread ergonomic strain and mental fatigue, significantly increasing burnout risks. Third, effective workplace infection controls were shown to directly reduce community transmission, reinforcing the public health role of occupational safety. Fourth, digital inspections and tele-audits replaced traditional enforcement, enabled by advanced communication technologies, safeguarding inspectors and ensuring compliance. Finally, excessive disinfectant application heightened chemical exposure risks, producing new health concerns despite infection control benefits. Collectively, the study demonstrates how the pandemic accelerated accountability reforms, technology-driven oversight, and integration of occupational safety with broader public health strategies.