Assessment of Environmental and Occupational Risk Factors for the Mitigation and Containment of a COVID-19 Outbreak in a Meat Processing Plant

Abstract

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, meat processing plants have been vulnerable to outbreaks of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Transmission of the virus is difficult to control in these settings because of a combination of factors including environmental conditions and the specific nature of the work. This paper describes a retrospective outbreak investigation in a meat processing plant, a description of the measures taken to prevent or contain further outbreaks, and insights on how those with specific knowledge of the working environment of these plants can collaborate with public health authorities to ensure optimal outbreak control. The plant experienced 111 confirmed positive asymptomatic cases in total with an estimated attack rate of 38% during a five-week period. 4 weeks after the first case, mass screening of all workers was conducted by the public health authorities. Thirty-two workers tested positive, of which 16 (50%) worked in one particular area of the plant, the boning hall (n = 60). The research team prepared and carried out semi-structured interviews with the plant personnel who were charged with COVID control within the plant. They carried out assessments of operational risk factors and also undertook air quality monitoring in the boning hall and abattoir. The air quality measurements in the boning hall showed a gradual build-up of carbon dioxide and aerosol particles over the course of a work shift, confirming that this poorly ventilated area of the plant had an environment that was highly favorable for aerosol transmission of SARS-CoV-2. Assessment of operational conditions incorporated visual surveys of the plant during the working day. Prior to and during the first 2 weeks of the outbreak, multiple measures were introduced into the plant by management, including physical distancing, provision of educational material to workers, visitor restrictions, and environmental monitoring. After the implementation of these measures and their progressive refinement by plant management, the factory had no further linked cases (clusters) or outbreaks for the following 198 days. The tailored approach to risk mitigation adopted in this meat processing plant shows that generic risk mitigation measures, as recommended by public health authorities, can be successfully adapted and optimized by designated plant emergency response teams.

Consideration of COVID-19 beyond the human-centred approach of prevention and control: the ONE-HEALTH perspective

“…The exhaled fine droplets and aerosol particles from infected persons can build up in a confined space, attach to surfaces, and would be transferred through airflow or contact [ 29 , 30 ].…”

“…Most environmental infection-related incidents occur in crowded cities in economically developed cities. However, it remains unclear about SARS-CoV-2 spill-over effect of environmental fomites, and the role of the environment could play in pathogenesis, spread, and severity of COVID-19 [ 30 ]. In addition, the COVID-19 has brought both positive and negative environmental impacts, especially warning and response from nature would alert humans and provide insights for contamination on further aggravation of the pandemic [ 63 ].…”

High SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence and Rapid Neutralizing Antibody Decline among Agricultural Workers in Rural Guatemala, June 2020–March 2021

“…Cumulative incidence estimates of SARS-CoV-2 infection have varied across job roles in both the agricultural and food production sectors [ 2 , 9 ]. Drivers of workplace transmission are similar among these sectors and include the inability to physically distance, physically demanding work, poorly ventilated indoor spaces, insufficient or inadequate personal protective equipment, congregate living and transportation, and incentivized productivity standards that may encourage working while experiencing symptoms [ 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 ]. Transmission dynamics were not assessed in this analysis, but the association between seropositivity at enrollment and job roles suggests that workplace transmission may have contributed to the high seroprevalence estimates in this cohort.…”

“…Given that increased risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection is associated with occupational setting and job role, workplace prevention strategies are imperative to decrease COVID-19 incidence within the agricultural sector. Several workplace prevention measures implemented in agricultural and food processing settings have been suggested to mitigate worker risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection [ 1 , 32 , 33 , 34 ] and include onsite-testing and vaccination, use of plexiglass dividers, restricted building access for non-employees, increased frequency of worksite shuttles to minimize crowding, daily symptom checks and questionnaires, posted health education materials, close coordination with local public health authorities, and employer-provided personal protective equipment. In July 2020, the agribusiness instituted a systematic workplace prevention plan in accordance with guidelines set forth by the Ministerio de Salud y Asistencia Social [ 35 ].…”

A prevalence study of COVID-19 among healthcare workers in a pandemic hospital in the Samsun province of Turkey

“…Previous studies have indicated that rather than particular areas of the hospital being associated with higher risk of infection, it is the activity of the individual which is the most important risk factor; workers dealing directly with SARS-CoV-2 positive patients, regardless of role, are at increased risk of infection. Ventilation and PPE use as well as the general prevalence of infection in the population are also factors that influence risk of infection both in hospitals and other locations [64][65][66][67][68][69][70].…”