Health and Safety in Sex Work: Protecting Yourself on the Job

When we talk about health and safety sex work, the practical steps sex workers take to protect their physical, mental, and digital well-being while doing their job. Also known as sex worker safety, it’s not about ideology—it’s about survival. This isn’t theoretical. It’s about knowing where to get an STI test without being judged, how to keep your phone from being used against you, and when to walk away from a client who feels off.

Behind every story of safety is a system of tools and habits. occupational burnout, the emotional exhaustion and detachment that comes from constant emotional labor without support. Also known as sex work burnout prevention, it’s why so many workers end up drained, isolated, or quitting altogether. It’s not just long hours—it’s the weight of stigma, the fear of arrest, the lack of sick leave, and the silence around mental health. Then there’s digital privacy sex work, how sex workers protect their online activity, messages, payments, and location data from police, clients, and hackers. Also known as data seizure protection, it’s about locking down your phone before you meet someone, knowing what police can legally take, and using tools that actually work. These aren’t side notes—they’re core to staying alive and keeping your income secure.

What you’ll find here isn’t advice from outsiders. These are the real strategies sex workers use every day: how to document a bad client before they disappear, how to find a doctor who won’t shame you, how to set up payments so your bank doesn’t freeze your account, and how to speak up in your own language when you’re in danger. You’ll see how multilingual safety cards help non-English speakers call for help. You’ll learn how medical escorts coordinate care for people with chronic illnesses—not because it’s glamorous, but because someone has to.

This isn’t about changing the system overnight. It’s about making today safer. Whether you’re a worker, a supporter, or just trying to understand, the tools and stories here are real, practical, and urgent. The posts below are the field guide you wish you had before you needed it.