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Official reports describe leaks of virus-laden fluids, a flood and a researcher bitten by an infected ferret
Tue 5 Jul 2022 02.00 EDT
Ian Sample
Dangerous incidents at UK laboratories, hospitals and Covid test centres potentially exposed staff to coronavirus and other hazards over the course of the pandemic, according to official reports obtained by the Guardian.
Many involved leaks and spillages of virus-laden fluids, but investigations also took place into a flood at an animal facility housing Covid-infected monkeys, mix ups that led scientists to work on live virus by mistake and a researcher being bitten by an infected ferret.
The Health and Safety Executive recorded at least 47 “dangerous occurrences” involving coronavirus at UK research facilities, hospitals and Lighthouse labs over the course of the pandemic. Reports from 37 cases were released to the Guardian under the Freedom of Information Act. The rest were withheld because of ongoing investigations.
The reports reflect the immense pressure that scientists, healthcare workers and staff at Lighthouse labs came under as Covid swept through Britain. Researchers’ hours soared as they raced to understand the lethal new virus. Meanwhile, NHS staff and specialists rapidly deployed to test centres were pushed to breaking point.
... On several occasions, scientists worked on live virus without proper safety measures because they believed the virus had been killed, while in other incidents, Covid positive test samples were transported without correct precautions. According to HSE reports, two healthcare workers at a hospital in Chichester became infected with Covid after not wearing PPE, but there is no evidence lab staff caught the virus in work-related blunders. In most cases staff were wearing appropriate PPE.
Tue 5 Jul 2022 02.00 EDT
Ian Sample
Dangerous incidents at UK laboratories, hospitals and Covid test centres potentially exposed staff to coronavirus and other hazards over the course of the pandemic, according to official reports obtained by the Guardian.
Many involved leaks and spillages of virus-laden fluids, but investigations also took place into a flood at an animal facility housing Covid-infected monkeys, mix ups that led scientists to work on live virus by mistake and a researcher being bitten by an infected ferret.
The Health and Safety Executive recorded at least 47 “dangerous occurrences” involving coronavirus at UK research facilities, hospitals and Lighthouse labs over the course of the pandemic. Reports from 37 cases were released to the Guardian under the Freedom of Information Act. The rest were withheld because of ongoing investigations.
The reports reflect the immense pressure that scientists, healthcare workers and staff at Lighthouse labs came under as Covid swept through Britain. Researchers’ hours soared as they raced to understand the lethal new virus. Meanwhile, NHS staff and specialists rapidly deployed to test centres were pushed to breaking point.
... On several occasions, scientists worked on live virus without proper safety measures because they believed the virus had been killed, while in other incidents, Covid positive test samples were transported without correct precautions. According to HSE reports, two healthcare workers at a hospital in Chichester became infected with Covid after not wearing PPE, but there is no evidence lab staff caught the virus in work-related blunders. In most cases staff were wearing appropriate PPE.
