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. 2023 Jun 5;23(1):1077.
doi: 10.1186/s12889-023-16025-8.

A SARS-CoV-2 outbreak in a plastics manufacturing plant

Alice Graham  1 , Amber I Raja  2 , Karin van Veldhoven  3 , Gillian Nicholls  4 , Andrew Simpson  4 , Barry Atkinson  5 , Ian Nicholls  5 , Hannah Higgins  1 , Joan Cooke  4 , Allan Bennett  5 , Derek Morgan  4 , Chris Keen  4 , Tony Fletcher  5 , Neil Pearce  6 , Christina Atchison  1 , Elizabeth B Brickley #  2 , Yiqun Chen #  7
Affiliations

A SARS-CoV-2 outbreak in a plastics manufacturing plant

Alice Graham et al. BMC Public Health. .

Abstract

Background: A SARS-CoV-2 outbreak with an attack rate of 14.3% was reported at a plastics manufacturing plant in England.

Methods: Between 23rd March and 13th May 2021, the COVID-OUT team undertook a comprehensive outbreak investigation, including environmental assessment, surface sampling, molecular and serological testing, and detailed questionnaires, to identify potential SARS-CoV-2 transmission routes, and workplace- and worker-related risk factors.

Results: While ventilation, indicated using real-time CO2 proxy measures, was generally adequate on-site, the technical office with the highest localized attack rate (21.4%) frequently reached peaks in CO2 of 2100ppm. SARS-CoV-2 RNA was found in low levels (Ct ≥35) in surface samples collected across the site. High noise levels (79dB) were recorded in the main production area, and study participants reported having close work contacts (73.1%) and sharing tools (75.5%). Only 20.0% of participants reported using a surgical mask and/or FFP2/FFP3 respirator at least half the time and 71.0% expressed concerns regarding potential pay decreases and/or unemployment due to self-isolation or workplace closure.

Conclusions: The findings reinforce the importance of enhanced infection control measures in manufacturing sectors, including improved ventilation with possible consideration of CO2 monitoring, utilising air cleaning interventions in enclosed environments, and provision of good-quality face masks (i.e., surgical masks or FFP2/FFP3 respirators) especially when social distancing cannot be maintained. Further research on the impacts of job security-related concerns is warranted.

Keywords: COVID-19; Manufacturing; Outbreak; SARS-CoV-2; Workplace.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
COVID-19 cases in manufacturing workplace and the surrounding region where an outbreak occurred, March 2021. Grey bars represent the number of COVID-19 cases reported by local Health Protection Teams (HPTs) associated with the plastic manufacturing company. The grey line represents the 7-day moving average number of COVID-19 cases per 100,000 in the Lower Tier Local Authority (LTLA) where the site is based. The arrows represent the timing of sampling from the COVID-OUT study
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Site map and environmental assessment of a manufacturing company, where a SARS-CoV-2 outbreak occurred
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Yiqun Chen, Christina Atchison., Barry Atkinson, Chris Barber, Allan Bennett, Elizabeth Brickley, Joan Cooke, Gavin Dabrera, David Fishwick, Tony Fletcher, Alice Graham, Hannah Higgins, Chris Keen, Derek Morgan, Catherine Noakes, Neil Pearce, Amber Raja, Vince Sandys, Jill Stocks, Martie van Tongeren, Karin van Veldhoven, Arpana Verma, Andrew Curran, The COVID-OUT study protocol: COVID-19 outbreak investigation to understand workplace SARS-CoV-2 transmission in the United Kingdom. Wellcome Open Res. 2021;6(201). 10.1288/wellcomeopenres.17015.1.
    1. Yiqun Chen, et al. COVID-19 risk questionnaire for workers - COVID-OUT study. 2021;13. 10.17605/OSF.IO/W8ZV5.
    1. Raja Amber, et al. Investigation of a SARS-CoV-2 Outbreak at an Automotive Manufacturing Site in England. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(11):6400. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19116400. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Group, S.E.a.M., Simple summary of ventilation actions to mitigate the risk of COVID-19, 1 October 2020. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/emg-simple-summary-of-ventila.... Accessed Dec 2021.
    1. Statistics, O.f.N. Coronavirus and homeworking in the UK: April 2020. 2020. Available from: https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/employment.... Accessed Dec 2021.

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