U.S. Forest Service
Region 5 Pacific Southwest Region
COVID-19 Human Interaction Mitigation Guideline Decision Memo
Date : 03/20/2020
Issue:
Region 5 employee's duties during operations associated with COVID-19 mission critical response.
Background:
Region 5 employee's duties during operations associated with COVID-19 is defined as Public Health and Safety Mission Critical Work. This includes foresUfuels management , special-use permits , recreation, front desk services and visitor centers, wildland fire mgt. and preparedness. This mission critical response could involve working in a group dynamics, working within 6 feet of other employees (in vehicles), or any "high touch" surfaces found in sharing a vehicle, utilizing common office spaces (lunch rooms, bathrooms, common areas), sharing phones, computers, radios in vehicles and in dispatching.
Mitigation Measures:
• Enforcing group size to 10 or less while conducting operations (Handcrews, WTC, RT-130, IMT mobilizing). Ensure proper social distancing 6 feet.
• Consider managing 2 different shifts (A shifUB shift) where applicable (Dispatch) to limit employee contact separating highly/uniquely skilled employees to avoid systemic exposure. (keep same employees working with same employees as small teams to prevent the possibility of systemic exposure)
• Enforce daily cleaning of "high touch" areas (hand rails, door knobs, hard surface counters), work stations and common office spaces in compliance with CDC cleaning guidelines.
• Require employees to comply with the recommended personal care for COVID-19 from CDC by taking your temperature first thing in the morning before leaving the residence to commute to the workplace. If the temperature is at or above 100.4 do not continue to the work place and consider s |
