# Extending a COVID-19 Job Exposure Matrix: The SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19 Job Exposure Matrix Module (SCoVJEM Module) for Population-Based Studies

## TL;DR

This paper introduces a new tool to assess workplace risks for SARS-CoV-2 transmission based on job characteristics like noise, activity, and temperature.

## Contribution

The paper extends a job exposure matrix to include four new dimensions for assessing SARS-CoV-2 transmission risks in the workplace.

## Key findings

- 74.6% of occupations were classified as loud or very loud, while 13.8% involved high physical activity.
- Latino workers were overrepresented in high-risk occupations like farming and construction.
- Males were more likely than females to work in the highest exposure categories.

## Abstract

The risk of workplace SARS-CoV-2 transmission is increased by aerosolization or droplets and increased respiratory rates or increased viral stability in cold environments. Few methods exist for identifying occupational risks of SARS-CoV-2 transmission. We extended a SARS-CoV-2 job exposure matrix (JEM) into four dimensions, talking loudly (Loud) (very loud, loud, somewhat loud, or not), physical activity (PA) (high, medium or low), and cold (Cold) (cold or not) and hot environments (Hot) (hot or not), using data from the Occupational Information Network (O*NET) and a priori questions for each and noise measurements for 535 occupations. We classified 70%+ occupations as loud or very loud (74.6%); whereas 13.8% were high PA, 18.5% exposed to cold, and 23.7% exposed to hot temperatures. Applying to California 2019 workforce data to explore by race/ethnicity and sex, we found 21.2% worked in very loud and 12.6% in high PA occupations and 15.7% in cold and 17.8% hot environments. Latino workers were highly represented in very loud and high PA levels among farming (83.8 and 78.4%) and construction (58.7% and 50.3%). More males worked in each highest exposure level than females. This JEM provides aerosol transmission proxies for COVID-19 risk factors and merits investigation as a tool for epidemiologic studies.