Office lift has a 'no talking rule'

[theworstoftimes]

I think this is taking covid rules too far.
AIBU?

www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/07/23/covid-could-spread-flatulence-say-ministers/amp/

Farts are no longer acceptable and may in fact spread Covid so should be banned as well as talking in lifts and shouting thanks to bus drivers

It's quite irresponsible to get in a lift.

Of course I don't have a plan on how to enforce it @IcedPurple as funnily enough I'm not the minister for transport.

That's a pity.

However, it was well known fairly early on that speaking loudly spreads covid more than normal volume.

And that speaking at all spreads it more than being silent.

Maybe we should just ban speaking on public transport? Or introduce a 'non-essential speaking' rule just like we had for retail? You're only allowed to speak on 'essential' matters. Otherwise keep a lid on it.

This thread made me laugh. Some of the replies are classic

@MurielSpriggs

It's quite irresponsible to get in a lift.

The world has gone mad.

@Chessie678

My work will probably adopt this if they hear of it. The place looks like a murder scene there’s so much covid tape everywhere and you are not allowed to share an office so sit in a glass box on your own. You also have to sit on your own table at the cafeteria which is 2m away from the next person’s table. There’s also a ridiculous one way system which leaves you stranded in the fire escape if you follow it correctly and involves walking around 50m to get to the office immediately adjacent to yours. There’s zero point being there as you are not actually able to communicate with anyone though apparently they are keen for us to come back and sit alone in the glass boxes. Meanwhile the rest of my life is pretty much back to normal.

Do we work for the same company!???

We have all that - plus we no longer have tea, coffee, sugar or milk supplied. Have to bring in our own. Because Covid.

Also the dishwasher is unplugged. Have to wash our cups and cutlery. Because Covid.

You're in an enclosed, unventilated space, talking releases more droplets into the air than not. Seems a no-brainer to me. You're in a lift for a few minutes, how hard is it to wait until you get out to chat?

@LynetteScavo

What's the point of going in to the office if you can't talk?

How much time do you spend in the lift?! Dunno about you, but mostly I stop to chat to people, or arrange to meet them somewhere other than in a lift.

Held my breath hard in the unventilated room with 32 kids in earlier and no masks on. Only I didn't because I can't hold my breath for 5 hours.

Absolutely bonkers rule.

@Hercisback there's no pressing need to talk on a short lift journey. It's impacts vs benefits vs mitigations, I find it bonkers that people still struggle with risk assessments after all this time.

I'd love this. I hate fake lift chat.

“ I find it bonkers that people still struggle with risk assessments after all this time.”

Me too. I sat through a Q&A thing at work where someone asked about how to maintain social distancing whilst evacuating in the case of a fire.

And my risk assessment in that scenario would be that it's far far far less risky than my classroom so I'd talk anyway.

@Hercisback

And my risk assessment in that scenario would be that it's far far far less risky than my classroom so I'd talk anyway.

But the situation in schools is dreadful, we should be trying to improve schools, not make everywhere else worse to match!

@lannistunut I agree tbh. Would be frustrating to see this in a school risk assessment though considering the rest of the stuff we have to do.

[quote Hercisback]@lannistunut I agree tbh. Would be frustrating to see this in a school risk assessment though considering the rest of the stuff we have to do.[/quote]
Yes quite.

But of schools are special and Covid doesn't spread there so presumably no need in school

Missed out the 'course' in 'of course'

typing when grumpy with government is not good

23:53TheSmallAssassin

"You're in an enclosed, unventilated space, talking releases more droplets into the air than not. Seems a no-brainer to me. You're in a lift for a few minutes, how hard is it to wait until you get out to chat?"

Have you actually lost your mind??

It's called living, working and having a normal life. Honestly this is getting ridiculous.

Call me old fashioned but I remember when we aimed for more than 'we're all still alive'

@PopcornMuncher

We're all still alive and well and living pretty normal lives

You've been incredibly lucky then, how nice for you, but what's it got to do with anyone else's experience?

Oh I always feel a bit cheated when I miss the messages that subsequently get deleted

I feel bad I say thanks yo the bus driver now :-(
With mask on and generally facing the door as I exit whilst I do it.
Just feels polite to do so.