A wwyd conundrum

[HeadsetHarpy]

I work in a very confined space and can spend up to 14 hours on a shift in my confined space. I wear a headset, and other members of staff use the same headset. We use 70% alcohol wipes to clean the headset between users. I've just been informed that the person on the shift before me has tested positive for Covid - they took the test just before their shift, and got the results just after the end of it. We are responsible for cleaning our own workspace before commencing work, which I did with alcohol wipes, including the headset and all the controls for our machinery. Because of the nature of my work, we do not use PPE whilst wearing the headsets (we wear facemasks when not wearing the headset.) At no point did I come into direct contact with the previous worker, he left 5 hours before my shift began. Our confined workspace has only 2-3 people in it for the duration of the shift, I was on duty this shift with just one other person and he had had a negative covid test the day before.

What do I do? Do I get a test? Self Isolate? Do nothing at all? I haven't been in contact with person with Covid (that I know of) and nor do I have any symptoms. I sat in a seat and wore a piece of equipment that had been worn by someone with Covid, but cleaned before I put it on. My manager at work has not replied to phone calls so I am not getting any advice there.

I would be worried if the room is small and not well ventilated because you can't really protect yourself from it lingering in the room.

I would refuse to work in such a confined space. I read in an article recently that a signifcant amount of virus particles were measured in corridors outside ICUs. The Govt recommend ventilating spaces you occupy with others to get a free throughput of air.

The room is mechanically ventilated with a high rate of air flow and HEPA filters similar in efficacy to surgical theatre air filters. It is about 6ft square.

I would question why the person was in work while waiting for test results

I do an essential job and it is not possible to not be in the confined space to do it. So working elsewhere is absolutely not a possibility! That’s not the point of the thread though. I’m wondering what to do now.

‘I would question why the person was in work while waiting for test results‘ Ah, yes. They had had the test in the hope of being prove they were negative and avoiding confinement after completing their shift. We are put up in a hotel between shifts and are not allowed to leave our rooms unless we are in possession of a negative test. The person assumed they were negative and hoped to be allowed out.

Personally I wouldn't do anything, I wouldn't feel 'at risk' from infection from this other person......if you had sanitised everything between shifts .. but it depends how you feel . agree with a PP - why was the previous employee working whilst waiting for test results?.

The risk of surface transmission, particularly as you cleaned everything is pretty small. With a 5 hour break and in a ventilated area, I think the risk of any droplets etc from the positive worker remaining are also very small.

In short, I don't think you have any particular increased risk, and you should carry on as usual.

I would carry on as normal. I mean either you think the wipes do something or they don't -- if the wipes are supposed to do something, they should have removed the risk for you.

The surface transmission risk is low, and very very low if you wiped everything. I'd be much more concerned about the air in the small room, but sounds like it's being effectively filtered. Continue as normal apart from not being anyone vulnerable, but consider a test if you get even a non-standard symptom.

I'm curious about what you do in your little room, it sounds quite grim having 14 hours in a little box and then returning to your hotel. Do you have a window? Where in the world are you?

I would not be concerned in your shoes mainly because of the ventilation.

Thanks for the reassurance. I do tend to wipe everything down at work before I do anything else. Always have done, but Covid means I’ve got rather obsessive about wiping everything even more than I use to! Will carry on as normal but head for a test if I feel anything less than 100%. I’m off work for a few days now anyway, so only going to be at home with the kids, no plans to go anywhere at all.