Male Security Officers Have One Of Highest COVID Death Rates
London England Jan 29 2021
The Office for National Statistics has today published the latest figures regarding COVID-19 death by occupation, again revealing a high death rate in the security sector.
The ONS’ key conclusion is that men working in “low-skilled” jobs, such as the care sector, service jobs and security are at most risk.
In the elementary occupations group, the occupation with the highest rate of death involving COVID-19 are those who work in process plants, with 143.2 deaths per 100,000 males (120 deaths).
Those working in security occupations had the next highest rate of death involving COVID-19, with 93.4 deaths per 100,000 males (153 deaths). Most of these deaths were among security guards and related occupations (140 deaths; 100.7 deaths per 100,000 males).
In a previous report from May 2020, a total of 2,494 deaths involving the coronavirus (COVID-19) in the working-age population (those aged 20 to 64 years) of England and Wales were registered up to and including 20 April 2020. Nearly two-thirds of these deaths were among men (1,612 deaths), with the rate of death involving COVID-19 being statistically higher in males, with 9.9 deaths per 100,000 compared with 5.2 deaths per 100,000 females (882 deaths).
Looking at the previous 2020 data, compared with the rate among people of the same sex and age in England and Wales, men working in what the report defines as “lowest skilled occupations” had the highest rate of death involving COVID-19, with 21.4 deaths per 100,000 males (225 deaths).
Men working as security guards had one of the highest rates, with 45.7 deaths per 100,000 (63 deaths). Among men, a number of other specific occupations were found to have raised rates of death involving COVID-19, including: taxi drivers and chauffeurs (36.4 deaths per 100,000); bus and coach drivers (26.4 deaths per 100,000); chefs (35.9 deaths per 100,000); and sales and retail assistants (19.8 deaths per 100,000).
This report states that analysis does not prove conclusively that the observed rates of death involving COVID-19 are necessarily caused by differences in occupational exposure: “We adjusted for age, but not for other factors such as ethnic group and place of residence.”
A report, commissioned by Corps Security from Perpetuity Research and Consultancy International, revealed seven key issues that may contribute to security officers having one of the highest COVID-19 death rates.
This includes age, working location, ethnicity, and working in close proximity to others.
The very nature of the role of security officers influences their risk to COVID-19. Being a frontline key worker may mean encountering conflict when trying to enforce COVID-19 guidelines and this may make social distancing more difficult. They also have to touch equipment and technology others have handled on a regular basis and may find it difficult to ensure they carry out frequent handwashing.
Many security roles are located in major cities and some of these, particularly in London, the Midlands and south-east have been particularly hard hit by COVID-19, affecting the vulnerability of those working there.
