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| Are we still on track for non-vaccinated workers to be able to stop wearing masks effective June 30? I'm not sure I've seen an update... |
Q: Are we still on track for non-vaccinated workers to be able to stop wearing masks effective June 30? I'm not sure I've seen an update... A: Changes to COVID-19 restrictions July 1 Effective July 1, Washington state was expected to remove the remaining requirements associated with managing COVID-19. However, specific requirements for businesses remain. The following specific changes for Energy Northwest are effective July 1: Work hours and telecommuting - All employees are expected to resume on-site work for work hours charged.
- Telecommuting is authorized for positions eligible for remote work per GBP-HR-10, "Work Schedules and Telecommuting: Including Adverse Conditions." Ongoing telecommuting arrangements must meet all approvals required per GBP-HR-10 using Form 27005, with a copy of the completed form submitted to the respective HR generalist. Informal, infrequent telecommuting for non-bargaining employees must also follow GBP-HR-10 provisions and be pre-approved by your supervisor. If telecommuting, you must remain fit for duty during your established normal work hours/ERO period, have childcare support if applicable, and be available to immediately report to your designated work location if requested. Previous approval to telecommute during the pandemic period does not guarantee that telecommuting under non-pandemic conditions will be approved.
- COVID-19 supplemental leave and COVID-19 non-productive work orders are no longer available.
Masks and social distancing - Masks are not required if the employee is fully vaccinated; however, all employees are free to wear a mask if they choose. The CDC still recommends wearing masks indoors in tight spaces, or if required by the employer. Employees will need to show either proof of vaccination or attest that they are fully vaccinated and have their badge appropriately marked.
- Social distancing is still required if personnel are not vaccinated.
- Core business meetings shift to in-person for both quorum employees and observers. Selected meetings may choose to have a Teams remote connection as well.
- Social distancing signs can be removed after July 1. It is recommended that departments retain any signs in sturdy condition.
Illness reporting - Formal contact tracing will be performed if an employee reports they are positive for COVID-19. The pandemic response team has been disbanded and Occupational Health will take over the contact tracing function.
- Employees are encouraged to always evaluate their own health status and should not report to work if they are ill for any reason. The daily screening checklist will remain available through the COVID-19 website.
- Anyone exposed to COVID-19 can report to work if they are asymptomatic, regardless of vaccination status. Employees who are not vaccinated must wear a mask while at work and self-monitor for symptoms of COVID-19. Anyone showing symptoms of COVID-19 should not report to work and should notify their supervisor.
- Employees who test positive for COVID-19 should notify their supervisor and stay home until symptom free. Supervisors should notify Occupational Health.
Pandemic response resources - Temperature monitors located inside Energy Northwest facilities will remain and daily temperature screening is still required.
- Facilities will remain available for room sanitization on request.
- The pandemic response team, including email and text notifications of positive COVID-19 cases, will be discontinued. Employees are encouraged to report COVID-19 illnesses to Occupational Health.
- The pandemic response team internal website will remain accessible as a resource; future updates will be infrequent. The COVID-19 question forum will be closed.
For additional questions about EN's COVID-19 response, contact your supervisor or Occupational Health.
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| With the current outside temperature and many employees have been vaccinated, is it still recommended against personal fan usage in cubicles? |
Q: With the current outside temperature and many employees have been vaccinated, is it still recommended against personal fan usage in cubicles? A: CDC has recently updated their guidance on the use of personal fans on June 2, 2021. After having a discussion and review of the recent CDC guidance change with EN Industrial Safety and the Pandemic Response Team the use of personal fans is allowed for the workplace when following the below CDC recommended guidance measures. As with all fan use during the COVID-19 pandemic, take care to minimize the potential to create air patterns that flow directly across one person onto another: - Avoid the use of the high-speed settings
- Use ceiling fans at low velocity and potentially in the reverse-flow direction (so that air is pulled up toward the ceiling)
- Direct the fan discharge towards an unoccupied corner and wall spaces or up above the occupied zone.
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| What is the expectation for measuring temperatures when arriving to work? I have not seen anyone using the temperature monitors in over a month, and with the new guidance for vaccinated employees, there has been no additional communication on what's expec |
Q: What is the expectation for measuring temperatures when arriving to work? I have not seen anyone using the temperature monitors in over a month, and with the new guidance for vaccinated employees, there has been no additional communication on what's expected regarding the temperature monitors. A: The current COVID-19 Restart Plan Actions number 5 specifically states that all EN employee continue existing daily screening, including temperature checks prior to reporting to their work location. The Pandemic Response Team has also observed employees not stopping at temperature monitors at the PAAP or in the Deschutes during scheduled observations at these key locations. One thing to keep in mind is that there are numerous temperature monitors throughout the station and at our off-site facilities. During the Pandemic Response Teams observations/coaching most if not all employees had already checked their temperature at one of the many other locations. So, it may seem that employees are by-passing the temperature monitors when they may have already properly checked their temperature at another location. Employees are encouraged to respectfully coach one another when incorrect behaviors are observed. If repeated instances of incorrect behavior are seen in the same individual despite coaching, the observer should notify their own supervisor of the observation so that appropriate leadership can be informed to further investigate and/or address the situation. Future changes will be communicated to all employees once approved. Until that time employees are encouraged to continue to follow EN COVID-19 protocols listed on the COVID-19 website. |
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| The latest research out of Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis indicates that people who have contracted COVID-19 and recovered develop protective antibodies that will likely last a lifetime. Although this specific study is looking at mi |
Q: The latest research out of Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis indicates that people who have contracted COVID-19 and recovered develop protective antibodies that will likely last a lifetime. Although this specific study is looking at mild cases of COVID-19, with additional research for more severe cases pending, it begs the question of why Energy Northwest is only adjusting the mandatory mask policy for employees who have received a vaccine and not for employees who have naturally developed immunity from the age-old method of contracting an illness and overcoming it? A: While there is some evidence that having had COVID-19 does impart natural immunity, the current state mandates do not recognize natural immunity as a reason to relax mask usage. As a state agency in Washington, we are obligated to follow the state mandates. |
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| Where can I get the grommet on my badge saying I've been vaccinated? I just hit my 2 weeks and haven't been able to find anyone stationed in the Deschutes. I've tried in the evening and the morning. |
Q: Where can I get the grommet on my badge saying I've been vaccinated? I just hit my 2 weeks and haven't been able to find anyone stationed in the Deschutes. I've tried in the evening and the morning. A: Pandemic response team members will verify vaccination status seven days a week beginning May 21 in the Palouse Building, Room 103, from 4 a.m. to 8 p.m. Verification will also be done in the Industrial Safety Office in the Deschutes Building, Room 1-162 between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday. For information call the COVID-19 hotline at 377-8715. Under the updated Energy Northwest facial coverings and mask policy, individuals who wish to can provide proof they are fully vaccinated from COVID-19 and be exempt from wearing a facial covering. |
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| All of the simptoms listed on the D15 for Heat Stress are also amplified by wearing a mask. "Discuss signs/ symptoms of heat stress in prejob briefings (headache, dizziness, excessive sweating, nausea, weakness)." At what point are we going to recognize t |
Q: All the symptoms listed on the D15 for Heat Stress are also amplified by wearing a mask. "Discuss signs/ symptoms of heat stress in pre-job briefings (headache, dizziness, excessive sweating, nausea, weakness)." At what point are we going to recognize that masks are doing harm and impacting employees in a very negative way? This could get very dangerous as the temperatures begin to climb for summer. A: There are available options offered to employees in certain circumstances. Individuals that have an underlying health condition (accommodated through Human Resources) may seek relief from wearing a mask and replace the facial covering with another type suited for their situation. Employees are encouraged to communicate with their supervisor and HR generalist on further details. |
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| I and possibly many others who chose to get a vaccine and/or wear a mask may face discrimination (have already heard questions about political affiliation) because of this new mask policy. It also has given license to many unvaccinated individuals to not |
Q: I and possibly many others who chose to get a vaccine and/or wear a mask may face discrimination (have already heard questions about political affiliation) because of this new mask policy. It also has given license to many unvaccinated individuals to not even have the pretense of having or using a mask; if someone else doesn't need one, why do I. How are we to coach individuals or groups of individuals to wear a mask if they have not been vaccinated? Get close enough to examine their badge and risk the charge of harassment? A: Thanks for your question. When the CDC and Governor Inslee changed the mask requirements last week, ENW senior leadership reviewed our options and determined that we will continue to follow the CDC and the WA state policies. We have heard from our workers that some are in agreement with our stance and others are opposed. We understand this but will continue with our path of following the CDC and state. We do not believe that our changes will lead to discrimination. We are not violating any medical privacy issues with our policy. The un-vaccinated mask wearers are protecting other un-vaccinated workers. No one is forced to reveal their status; it is done entirely on a voluntary basis. Secondly, and not insignificantly, "normal" HIPAA laws do not universally apply during a pandemic environment. If you search Washington State Department of Labor or Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration websites, you can easily find guidance related to information that employers are allowed to ask and collect from employees that would otherwise be considered protected. The justification for this additional authority is the fact that COVID is easily passed from one person to another and can have severe health effects; consequently, this is a public safety issue, and more authority is given to employers to collect and use this type of information to protect public health. In combination, these two factors result in Energy Northwest having the legal authority to mark individual badges with an indication of vaccination without violating HIPAA. Employees are encouraged to respectfully coach one another when incorrect behaviors are observed. If repeated instances of incorrect behavior are seen in the same individual despite coaching, the observer should notify their own supervisor of the observation so that appropriate leadership can be informed to further investigate and/or address the situation. If anyone feels that they are being discriminated against, please contact your supervision, Human Resources or Legal. |
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| I am scared that I (and many others) will face discrimination because of this new mask policy. (The marking on the badge seems very unnecessary and uncalled for- as it is a clear indicator to everyone else about my classified medical decision.) EVERY pers |
Q: I am scared that I (and many others) will face discrimination because of this new mask policy. (The marking on the badge seems very unnecessary and uncalled for- as it is a clear indicator to everyone else about my classified medical decision.) EVERY person should be able to understand the safety concerns and choose to wear a mask or not. (The masked, unvaccinated people are to wear masks to protect the people around them- the vaccinated people? Why do masked people need to protect the vaccinated, isn't that counter-intuitive?) If my religious or medical-based choice to not get vaccinated will result in me being singled out and possibly being the only one in my group not getting vaccinated (for personal reasons that I will not be sharing to co-workers) how is this protecting me at work from discrimination? Everyone will be aware of my medical decision to not get vaccinated (by still wearing a mask). I do not feel protected for fear of discrimination at work. A: Thanks for your question. When the CDC and Governor Inslee changed the mask requirements last week, ENW senior leadership reviewed our options and determined that we will continue to follow the CDC and the WA state policies. We have heard from our workers that some are in agreement with our stance and others are opposed. We understand this but will continue with our path of following the CDC and state. We do not believe that our changes will lead to discrimination. We are not violating any medical privacy issues with our policy. The un-vaccinated mask wearers are protecting other un-vaccinated workers. No one is forced to reveal their status; it is done entirely on a voluntary basis. Secondly, and not insignificantly, "normal" HIPAA laws do not universally apply during a pandemic environment. If you search Washington State Department of Labor or Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration websites, you can easily find guidance related to information that employers are allowed to ask and collect from employees that would otherwise be considered protected. The justification for this additional authority is the fact that COVID is easily passed from one person to another and can have severe health effects; consequently, this is a public safety issue, and more authority is given to employers to collect and use this type of information to protect public health. In combination, these two factors result in Energy Northwest having the legal authority to mark individual badges with an indication of vaccination without violating HIPAA. If anyone feels that they are being discriminated against, please contact your supervision, Human Resources or Legal. |
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| An employee asked if they have already had COVID and have recent antibody testing showing that they have COVID antibodies if they can use those results in place of a vaccination card. Will these results be adequate or is the mask exemption strictly for t |
Q: An employee asked if they have already had COVID and have recent antibody testing showing that they have COVID antibodies if they can use those results in place of a vaccination card. Will these results be adequate or is the mask exemption strictly for those with a vaccination? A: For this situation, "fully vaccinated" means two weeks after receiving the second shot of a two-shot vaccine (Pfizer/Moderna) or 2 weeks after receiving the J&J vaccine. Currently CDC guidance is that individuals must show proof of being fully vaccinated through one of the three available shots. |
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| Will you accept photocopies or digital images of the card from everyone, without regard to location of residence? |
Q: Will you accept photocopies or digital images of the card from everyone, without regard to location of residence? A: Effective Sunday, May 16, employees - including our teammates who are with us for the outage - who can demonstrate proof of full vaccination will not need to wear a mask on company property. Workers who are not vaccinated will need to continue to follow our existing mask policy. No employee or temporary worker is required to disclose their vaccination status; however, those who choose not to disclose their status or not be vaccinated will be required to continue following the current mask policy. To support those who have travelled a long distance to get here, we will accept as proof of vaccination a picture, photocopy or scanned image of your record of vaccination. |
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| Are vaccinated employees still required to perform temperature checks prior to shift? |
Q: Are vaccinated employees still required to perform temperature checks prior to shift? A: All employees must be able to answer NO to all the questions listed on the Screening Checklist prior to reporting to work regardless of their vaccination status. |
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| I am troubled by the fact that while we are not asking individuals to reveal their vaccination status, we are going ahead and marking everyone who does not have a vaccine. I think some honesty about the results of our action to mark people “vaccinated” im |
Q: I am troubled by the fact that while we are not asking individuals to reveal their vaccination status, we are going ahead and marking everyone who does not have a vaccine. I think some honesty about the results of our action to mark people "vaccinated" implies that non-vaccinated will end up "marked" and therefore disclosed. This is a dangerous precedent for medical disclosure and unfortunate turn of events. Is station management sure they are willing to disclose people's status without their permission? I strongly oppose receiving any marks (or non-marks) for medical decisions. A: I appreciate and share your concern over the sensitive nature of a person's medical history. In order to comply with the government's updated policy, which is designed to allow vaccinated citizens of Washington State to not wear masks while those who are not vaccinated must still wear them, we were required to update our policy. To be clear right up front, Energy Northwest is not revealing anyone's vaccination status. The process is completely voluntary, and employees are free to make their own decision to reveal their status or not. We crafted the language in our updated to policy to be clear that: 1. Energy Northwest will not require disclosure of vaccination status 2. All employees, even those who are vaccinated, are free to wear masks and socially distance. This does provide some ambiguity on the vaccination status of an employee who has chosen to wear a mask - no one except that employee can know if they are vaccinated or not. For those who have been vaccinated, if they don't want that fact disclosed, they may simply wear a mask. In these cases, both the employee and the company are complying with the regulations. Of course, the situation you describe is not restricted to Energy Northwest. With the update to the Washington state guidelines, you cannot be sure if the person you pass in a store aisle wearing a mask is vaccinated or not. |
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| With the new CDC Guidelines with regards to wearing masks, fully vaccinated person no longer have to wear masks. What is going to be CGS stance on this new guideance? |
Q: With the new CDC Guidelines with regards to wearing masks, fully vaccinated person no longer must wear masks. What is going to be CGS stance on this new guidance? A: On Thursday the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) and Governor Inslee updated their policies for controlling COVID-19. Taking the two announcements together the net result is: On June 30 Washington state will return to normal pre-COVID life. No one will be required to socially distance or wear a mask.* All counties will advance to Stage 3 May 18 (Benton and Franklin are already there). Between now and June 30, if the total vaccination percentage for eligible populations in Washington reaches 70% (it is currently about 59%) then no one will be required to wear a mask or socially distance. All that is required to support this objective is that 70% of residents get one shot of a two-shot vaccine (Pfizer or Moderna) or a single shot of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Between now and June 30, those who are fully vaccinated will not need to wear a mask.* For this situation, "fully vaccinated" means two weeks after receiving the second shot of a two-shot vaccine (Pfizer/Moderna) or 2 weeks after receiving the J&J vaccine. * There are some restrictions, such as masks still required in public transportation, and mask wear remains encouraged for all who are in crowded settings. Additionally, should COVID rebound to the point that hospital ICU beds are challenged, general mask wearing could be reinstituted. Over the last 24 hours we received numerous requests for information on the changes in the government's policy. While most were interested in how and when we might implement the changes, some expressed concerns that with the outage in progress and while we are showing good control of COVID with our current policy now is not the time to loosen our restrictions. Policy Update Senior Leadership team discussed the issue yesterday and realizes that whatever path we take will not please everyone. So, we have decided the best course of action is to do what we have done all along – implement CDC recommendations while following state mandates. Effective Sunday, May 16, employees - including our teammates who are with us for the outage - who can demonstrate proof of full vaccination will not need to wear a mask on company property. Workers who are not vaccinated will need to continue to follow our existing mask policy. No employee or temporary worker is required to disclose their vaccination status; however, those who choose not to disclose their status or not be vaccinated will be required to continue following the current mask policy. To support those who have travelled a long distance to get here, we will accept as proof of vaccination a picture, photocopy or scanned image of your record of vaccination. Requiring proof of vaccination provides a reasonable balance between our requirement to follow the CDC and Washington guidance, while at the same time addressing the concerns of employees about potential spread of the virus or who might be in the high-risk category. All employees, regardless of their vaccination status, are of course free to wear a mask and socially distance at all times. To help easily identify those who are not required to wear masks, Sunday, May 16, Energy Northwest staff will be stationed at the Deschutes flag pole during shift changes (5:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.) to verify proof of vaccination and will mark individual EN badges so you will not have to repeat the verification daily. Additional verification times beyond shift change will be established Monday. The Energy Services & Development leadership team will develop a plan for rolling out this change with all ESD employees, including remote sites. ESD employees who have questions should reach out to their supervisor or manager. Guidance for implementing the changes scheduled for June 30 will be provided at a later date. If you have any questions, the best and quickest way to get an answer is to ask your supervisor or submit your question to the Pandemic Response Team. |
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| It appears the CDC revised there guidance to allow no masks for personnel who are fully vaccinated both outdoors and indoors for most instances. When will we switch to this guidance. |
Q: It appears the CDC revised their guidance to allow no masks for personnel who are fully vaccinated both outdoors and indoors for most instances. When will we switch to this guidance? A: On Thursday the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) and Governor Inslee updated their policies for controlling COVID-19. Taking the two announcements together the net result is: On June 30 Washington state will return to normal pre-COVID life. No one will be required to socially distance or wear a mask.* All counties will advance to Stage 3 May 18 (Benton and Franklin are already there). Between now and June 30, if the total vaccination percentage for eligible populations in Washington reaches 70% (it is currently about 59%) then no one will be required to wear a mask or socially distance. All that is required to support this objective is that 70% of residents get one shot of a two-shot vaccine (Pfizer or Moderna) or a single shot of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Between now and June 30, those who are fully vaccinated will not need to wear a mask.* For this situation, "fully vaccinated" means two weeks after receiving the second shot of a two-shot vaccine (Pfizer/Moderna) or 2 weeks after receiving the J&J vaccine. * There are some restrictions, such as masks still required in public transportation, and mask wear remains encouraged for all who are in crowded settings. Additionally, should COVID rebound to the point that hospital ICU beds are challenged, general mask wearing could be reinstituted. Over the last 24 hours we received numerous requests for information on the changes in the government's policy. While most were interested in how and when we might implement the changes, some expressed concerns that with the outage in progress and while we are showing good control of COVID with our current policy now is not the time to loosen our restrictions. Policy Update Senior Leadership team discussed the issue yesterday and realizes that whatever path we take will not please everyone. So, we have decided the best course of action is to do what we have done all along – implement CDC recommendations while following state mandates. Effective Sunday, May 16, employees - including our teammates who are with us for the outage - who can demonstrate proof of full vaccination will not need to wear a mask on company property. Workers who are not vaccinated will need to continue to follow our existing mask policy. No employee or temporary worker is required to disclose their vaccination status; however, those who choose not to disclose their status or not be vaccinated will be required to continue following the current mask policy. To support those who have travelled a long distance to get here, we will accept as proof of vaccination a picture, photocopy or scanned image of your record of vaccination. Requiring proof of vaccination provides a reasonable balance between our requirement to follow the CDC and Washington guidance, while at the same time addressing the concerns of employees about potential spread of the virus or who might be in the high-risk category. All employees, regardless of their vaccination status, are of course free to wear a mask and socially distance at all times. To help easily identify those who are not required to wear masks, Sunday, May 16, Energy Northwest staff will be stationed at the Deschutes flag pole during shift changes (5:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.) to verify proof of vaccination and will mark individual EN badges so you will not have to repeat the verification daily. Additional verification times beyond shift change will be established Monday. The Energy Services & Development leadership team will develop a plan for rolling out this change with all ESD employees, including remote sites. ESD employees who have questions should reach out to their supervisor or manager. Guidance for implementing the changes scheduled for June 30 will be provided at a later date. If you have any questions, the best and quickest way to get an answer is to ask your supervisor or submit your question to the Pandemic Response Team. |
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| Related to the ask senior management question posted on 5/13 and the Governor Inslee press release dated 5/13 titled "Inslee announces statewide reopening date of June 30 and short-term statewide move to Phase 3" where he stated "that Washington will ful |
Q: Related to the ask senior management question posted on 5/13 and the Governor Inslee press release dated 5/13 titled "Inslee announces statewide reopening date of June 30 and short-term statewide move to Phase 3" where he stated "that Washington will fully adopt masking guidance issued by the CDC earlier today." and "The state will update our guidance documents — working with the Department of Health and Labor & Industries — to reflect this as soon as possible. Businesses retain the right to require customers wear masks." Are we going to remove the mask requirement for fully vaccinated people, thus encouraging vaccination by providing a benefit? A: On Thursday the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) and Governor Inslee updated their policies for controlling COVID-19. Taking the two announcements together the net result is: On June 30 Washington state will return to normal pre-COVID life. No one will be required to socially distance or wear a mask.* All counties will advance to Stage 3 May 18 (Benton and Franklin are already there). Between now and June 30, if the total vaccination percentage for eligible populations in Washington reaches 70% (it is currently about 59%) then no one will be required to wear a mask or socially distance. All that is required to support this objective is that 70% of residents get one shot of a two-shot vaccine (Pfizer or Moderna) or a single shot of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Between now and June 30, those who are fully vaccinated will not need to wear a mask.* For this situation, "fully vaccinated" means two weeks after receiving the second shot of a two-shot vaccine (Pfizer/Moderna) or 2 weeks after receiving the J&J vaccine. * There are some restrictions, such as masks still required in public transportation, and mask wear remains encouraged for all who are in crowded settings. Additionally, should COVID rebound to the point that hospital ICU beds are challenged, general mask wearing could be reinstituted. Over the last 24 hours we received numerous requests for information on the changes in the government's policy. While most were interested in how and when we might implement the changes, some expressed concerns that with the outage in progress and while we are showing good control of COVID with our current policy now is not the time to loosen our restrictions. Policy Update Senior Leadership team discussed the issue yesterday and realizes that whatever path we take will not please everyone. So, we have decided the best course of action is to do what we have done all along – implement CDC recommendations while following state mandates. Effective Sunday, May 16, employees - including our teammates who are with us for the outage - who can demonstrate proof of full vaccination will not need to wear a mask on company property. Workers who are not vaccinated will need to continue to follow our existing mask policy. No employee or temporary worker is required to disclose their vaccination status; however, those who choose not to disclose their status or not be vaccinated will be required to continue following the current mask policy. To support those who have travelled a long distance to get here, we will accept as proof of vaccination a picture, photocopy or scanned image of your record of vaccination. Requiring proof of vaccination provides a reasonable balance between our requirement to follow the CDC and Washington guidance, while at the same time addressing the concerns of employees about potential spread of the virus or who might be in the high-risk category. All employees, regardless of their vaccination status, are of course free to wear a mask and socially distance at all times. To help easily identify those who are not required to wear masks, Sunday, May 16, Energy Northwest staff will be stationed at the Deschutes flag pole during shift changes (5:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.) to verify proof of vaccination and will mark individual EN badges so you will not have to repeat the verification daily. Additional verification times beyond shift change will be established Monday. The Energy Services & Development leadership team will develop a plan for rolling out this change with all ESD employees, including remote sites. ESD employees who have questions should reach out to their supervisor or manager. Guidance for implementing the changes scheduled for June 30 will be provided at a later date. If you have any questions, the best and quickest way to get an answer is to ask your supervisor or submit your question to the Pandemic Response Team. |
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| Where do I receive the mark on my badge? |
Q: Where do I receive the mark on my badge? A: Pandemic response team members will verify vaccination status seven days a week beginning May 21 in the Palouse Building, Room 103, from 4 a.m. to 8 p.m. Verification will also be done in the Industrial Safety Office in the Deschutes Building, Room 1-162 between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday. For information call the COVID-19 hotline at 377-8715. Under the updated Energy Northwest facial coverings and mask policy, individuals who wish to can provide proof they are fully vaccinated from COVID-19 and be exempt from wearing a facial covering. |
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| Per CDC guidance "If you've been fully vaccinated you can gather indoors with fully vaccinated people without wearing a mask or staying 6 feet apart." If all members of a work group, meeting room, or main control room have been fully vaccinated will the |
Q. Per CDC guidance "If you've been fully vaccinated you can gather indoors with fully vaccinated people without wearing a mask or staying 6 feet apart." If all members of a work group, meeting room, or main control room have been fully vaccinated will the company allow for relaxed mask usage, i.e., only requiring masks when an un vaccinated or unknown vaccine status individual enters the work area? A. As we enter Refueling Outage R-25 it is important for the station to remain vigilant in maintaining our current health behaviors. We recognize that CDC guidance has changed recently for vaccinated individuals, however we do not want to let our guard down at this time and are keeping the same mask usage and social distancing practices that we already have in place, i.e. mask usage covering nose and mouth, and maintaining a 6-foot distance between yourself and others where practicable. This will help us to protect our employees, our contractors, and will give us the best possibility of ensuring we do not have scope or schedule issues with the refueling outage due to COVID concerns. After we successfully complete R-25 we will re-evaluate our position regarding mask usage and social distancing based upon the CDC and State recommendations and guidelines at that time. |
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| What is the status on use of personal fans to keep us cool as the temperature heats up? I know at one-point last year fan use was discouraged and have not seen an update since. |
Q: What is the status on use of personal fans to keep us cool as the temperature heats up? I know at one-point last year fan use was discouraged and have not seen an update since. A: CDC Guidance suggests that fans would close the social distance benefits by potentially spreading exhaled aerosols. Therefore, at this time personal use fans are NOT to be used in office buildings. Use of fans in industrial areas will be evaluated on a case by case basis by Facilities & Commercial Engineering and approved by a manager. |
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| In the past we were to stay home if exposed to someone with COVID. If I have been vaccinated and have been exposed to someone, I know has COVID, what actions am to take? |
Q: In the past we were to stay home if exposed to someone with COVID. If I have been vaccinated and have been exposed to someone, I know has COVID, what actions am to take? A: Per the CDC, those that have been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19 are not required to quarantine if they have been fully vaccinated against the disease and show no symptoms. The Energy Northwest COVID-19 Site Access Screening Checklist rev. 6 has recently been revised to include the information on being vaccinated. Employees must be still be able to answer NO to all the questions listed on the Screening Checklist prior to reporting to work. |
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| For the many contractors coming on site here for the R-25 outage that have not been vaccinated, do they need to have a negative COVID-9 test or quarantine for 10 days before they can work here? |
Q: For the many contractors coming on site here for the R-25 outage that have not been vaccinated, do they need to have a negative COVID-9 test or quarantine for 10 days before they can work here? A: Supplemental workers conducting essential work-related travel to support re-fueling outage 25 will follow our EN screening guidance and return to work criteria. Supplemental workers will be screened daily during their in-processing at building 184. Workers must meet the established screening criteria and be asymptomatic to complete their in-processing requirements for unescorted access. If a supplemental worker is not able to pass our established EN screening criteria, they will be directed to obtain a negative test for COVID-19 prior to returning to site. The Outage HIT, Access Authorization and the Pandemic Response Team have developed measures to ensure the safety of the employees and workers during In-Processing for R25. |
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| Will supplemental workers from states other than Washington, Oregon and Idaho be required to quarantine for 10 days if not fully vaccinated? |
Q: Will supplemental workers from states other than Washington, Oregon and Idaho be required to quarantine for 10 days if not fully vaccinated? A: Supplemental workers conducting essential work-related travel to support re-fueling outage 25 will follow our EN screening guidance and return to work criteria. Supplemental workers will be screened daily during their in-processing at building 184. Workers must meet the established screening criteria and be asymptomatic to complete their in-processing requirements for unescorted access. If a supplemental worker is not able to pass our established EN screening criteria, they will be directed to obtain a negative test for COVID-19 prior to returning to site. The Outage HIT, Access Authorization and the Pandemic Response Team have developed measures to ensure the safety of the employees and workers during In-Processing for R25. |
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| Will the station consider relaxing face mask requirements for work groups/offices that are 100% vaccinated? This would still be IAW CDC guidelines? |
Q: Will the station consider relaxing face mask requirements for work groups/offices that are 100% vaccinated? This would still be IAW CDC guidelines? A: Given the limited amount of information on how much the mRNA COVID-19 vaccine may reduce transmission in the general population and how long a vaccine will provide protection against the virus, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends vaccinated people should continue to follow all current CDC guidance to protect themselves and others. This includes wearing a mask, staying at least 6 feet away from others and washing hands often. At this time EN will continue following CDC quarantine guidance after exposure to someone with COVID-19. As many things related to COVID continue to evolve and change on a nearly daily basis, the Pandemic Response Team will monitor and adjust based upon CDC recommendations and guidance. |
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| What are the (COVID) guidelines for someone returning to work, after working from home for a year due to having a severe underlying health condition? Is it their choice to return to work, and work overtime with many contractors, (they are not essential to |
Q: What are the (COVID) guidelines for someone returning to work, after working from home for a year due to having a severe underlying health condition? Is it their choice to return to work, and work overtime with many contractors, (they are not essential to the outage), or is it Managements decision? Would ENW hold any type of liability if someone is at work, that has said condition, if that person gets COVID with lasting side effects or even death? Thank you. A: Balancing work needs with personnel safety is an ongoing effort that EN leaders do daily and take seriously. The decision about when employees need to return to the workplace is made by EN leaders (mostly department managers) with one exception. The exception is employees who are considered "high risk" for Covid-19. Pursuant to a proclamation issued by Governor Inslee early in the pandemic, these high-risk individuals have the option of staying off-site and EN will continue to work with them on alternative work arrangements until the Governor's order is lifted. If employees have questions about their need to return to the workplace and what their options are, they should contact their supervisor or HR generalist so the specifics of their situation can be evaluated. It's possible work-from-home arrangements may continue in some situations beyond the high-risk exception, but that will be a decision made by the department management team based on the circumstances and the requirements of GBP-HR-10, Work Schedules and Telecommuting: Including Adverse Conditions. It's important to remember that EN provides an essential service that needs to be done safely and effectively, which requires personnel on-site to perform necessary tasks. While we could allow more personnel to work from home in the beginning of the pandemic, over time that becomes more difficult to sustain, which is why we've taken a careful and measured approach to returning personnel to the site. Further, EN has implemented robust Covid-19 measures to ensure the workplace is as safe as it can be for workers. This includes screening criteria, social distancing requirements, mask rules, increased cleaning routines and more recently, working with the Washington State Department of Health to secure enough vaccines for all employees plus essential contractors. Through these measures those in the workplace should have a level of confidence that they will be safe from exposure. |
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| What are the guidelines for returning to work after working from home for over a year due to a health condition? People are returning now, for overtime, when the number of workers will be doubled. Work can be done from home, including outage work. After o |
Q: What are the guidelines for returning to work after working from home for over a year due to a health condition? People are returning now, for overtime, when the number of workers will be doubled. Work can be done from home, including outage work. After outage, are we allowed to return to work from home status, due to the health condition? Who makes the guidelines, the worker, or the company? Thank you. A: Balancing work needs with personnel safety is an ongoing effort that EN leaders do daily and take seriously. The decision about when employees need to return to the workplace is made by EN leaders (mostly department managers) with one exception. The exception is employees who are considered "high risk" for Covid-19. Pursuant to a proclamation issued by Governor Inslee early in the pandemic, these high-risk individuals have the option of staying off-site and EN will continue to work with them on alternative work arrangements until the Governor's order is lifted. If employees have questions about their need to return to the workplace and what their options are, they should contact their supervisor or HR generalist so the specifics of their situation can be evaluated. It's possible work-from-home arrangements may continue in some situations beyond the high-risk exception, but that will be a decision made by the department management team based on the circumstances and the requirements of GBP-HR-10, Work Schedules and Telecommuting: Including Adverse Conditions. It's important to remember that EN provides an essential service that needs to be done safely and effectively, which requires personnel on-site to perform necessary tasks. While we could allow more personnel to work from home in the beginning of the pandemic, over time that becomes more difficult to sustain, which is why we've taken a careful and measured approach to returning personnel to the site. Further, EN has implemented robust Covid-19 measures to ensure the workplace is as safe as it can be for workers. This includes screening criteria, social distancing requirements, mask rules, increased cleaning routines and more recently, working with the Washington State Department of Health to secure enough vaccines for all employees plus essential contractors. Through these measures those in the workplace should have a level of confidence that they will be safe from exposure. |
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| Is it ok to laminate a vaccination card? |
Q: Is it ok to laminate a vaccination card? A: The CDC currently doesn't have a standard on whether the COVID-19 vaccine card should be laminated or not. The only requirement is that the card is completely up to date. Anyone who received their first dose of the coronavirus vaccine is welcome to enroll in V-Safe or VaxText. The CDC said these tools will help individuals access their vaccination information. You should get a vaccination card that tells you what COVID-19 vaccine you received, the date you received it, and where you received it. Keep your vaccination card in case you need it for future use. Consider taking a picture of your vaccination card as a backup copy. Our local Office Max offers a free lamination and copy of your vaccination card through July. |
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| COVID-19 precautions discussion with some of the travelers that have been through several outages shared their COVID-19 precautions that other sites instituted and had questions as to whether Energy Northwest COVID-19 response team has evaluated: 1) Using |
Q: COVID-19 precautions discussion with some of the travelers that have been through several outages shared their COVID-19 precautions that other sites instituted and had questions as to whether Energy Northwest COVID-19 response team has evaluated: 1) Using hand sanitizer before and after using the hand geometry (hand geometry seems a likely place that germs could be transferred) 2) Requiring all travelers to take COVID-19 test on site prior to in processing 3) Wiping down your electronic dosimeter after use prior to putting back in the receptacle 4) Expecting all workers to wipe down their personal area/computers prior going home each day and night. Is EN going to lift the travel requirements for leaving the state? Is EN going to put any of these industry COVID-19 practices in place before R-25? A: The Refueling and Maintenance Outage 25 is quickly approaching. An important measure of our success is reliable and safe operation of Columbia Generating Station for the following full cycle. Our benchmarking showed us that a couple utilities that had outages during the pandemic outbreak saw significant impacts to their outages and business while others fared much better. A predominate driver to a successful outage during the pandemic related to wearing face coverings and limiting our interactions when not at work. The Outage Pandemic High Impact Team (HIT) continues to implement the remaining portions of the comprehensive plan based on gathered operating experience. Additionally, a whitepaper that was distributed Feb. 28, 2021, is available to employees with more detailed information Pandemic Response HIT .The Outage Pandemic HIT has seven sub-teams of people working together to ensure that R-25 is accomplished safely and on schedule through proactive planning on how to mitigate expected challenges. The Pandemic Outage HIT also putting together a tool to be reactive to site conditions and adapt our work as required. Remember, everyone at Columbia has an important role during R25, although not all employees will need to be on-site full-time during the outage. Individual managers will work with their teams to ensure that those employees who need to be on-site to support R-25 will be available at the appropriate time. By having a questioning attitude, elevating equipment issues, and pursuing excellence in work execution and dose reduction, we will have a successful outage. Regarding your question on the travel requirements, they have recently changed due to Governor Inslee's recission of his November 13, 2020- proclamation. The new EN travel advisory is listed in the Managers/Supervisors COVID-19 Guide (rev. 6). |
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| Has facilities taken steps or considered improving ventilation in the buildings (ex: Deschutes)? Per CDC (link: COVID-19 Employer Information for Office Buildings | CDC), for example: |
Q: Has facilities taken steps or considered improving ventilation in the buildings (ex: Deschutes)? Per CDC (link: COVID-19 Employer Information for Office Buildings | CDC), for example: -Increase the percentage of outdoor air -Increase total airflow supply to occupied spaces, if possible -Disable demand-control ventilation (DCV) controls that reduce air supply based on temperature or occupancy -Improve central air filtration A: Facilities has adjusted buildings HVAC systems to be within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations. Most of the HVAC systems at EN are equipped with economizers which bring in more outside air when the temperature is mild, the systems economize a majority of the time during the outage because of the spring weather, bringing in additional outside air. Facilities has, and will continue, to replace HVAC filters throughout the site, including outage trailers, with a higher MERV rating as recommended by ASHRAE which captures more droplets and reduces the spread of airborne transmissions. The larger central air handlers on the Deschutes and Kootenai buildings have large central air handling units with economizers and two stages of filtration, there is a 4" pre-filtration system followed by 12" final filters. The pandemic response team continues to follow published guidance by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for addressing COVID-19 concerns, including self-screening guidelines, social distancing and routine cleaning, and disinfecting of common areas. |
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| When do appointments for ENW employees for the vaccine begin? I'm patiently waiting my turn but there have been crickets. |
Q: When do appointments for ENW employees for the vaccine begin? I'm patiently waiting my turn but there have been crickets. A: The Pandemic Response Team has delivered links with appointment dates and times to Managers/Supervisors for each department. The Pandemic Response Team recommends that employees reach out to their Manager/Supervisor regarding the scheduled appointment dates and times that have been offered. If you need further assistance regarding any COVID-19 related questions, please feel free to call the COVID-19 hotline at 509-377-8715 or 8715 if on site. |
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| The governors Travel Advisory Travel Advisory- Washington state.pdf says nothing about a negative test but to reference the CDC’s travel guidelines which says: |
Q: The governors Travel Advisory Travel Advisory- Washington state.pdf says nothing about a negative test but to reference the CDC's travel guidelines which says: "After You Travel Recommendations • Get tested 3-5 days after travel AND stay home and self-quarantine for 7 days after travel. o Even if you test negative, stay home and self-quarantine for the full 7 days. o If your test is positive, isolate yourself to protect others from getting infected. • If you don't get tested, it's safest to stay home and self-quarantine for 10 days after travel." So where did the decision come from that states (in the Managers-Supervisors Covid-19 guide) "• Quarantine for 14 days after their return home OR be tested for COVID-19 upon return to Washington and remain offsite until they receive a negative test result." Since this is an Advisory action by the Governor and not a Mandate, Executive Action or Law is EN taking some liberties and flexing the "recommendations" by allowing immediate test, and immediate return after travel and negative test? Should in the least this also be updated to say 10 days? A: The new travel guidance for domestic and international travel has been added to the Managers/Supervisors COVID-19 Guide revision 6. |
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| As a follow-up to question just submitted. I see where it says 14 days in the Proclamation, however this proclamation has no mention of Negative Test after return. |
Q: As a follow-up to question just submitted. I see where it says 14 days in the Proclamation, however this proclamation has no mention of Negative Test after return. ADDITIONALLY, as a reminder, a travel advisory for all non-essential travel, issued on November 13, 2020, remains in effect. That advisory provides the following guidance: 1. Persons arriving in Washington from other states or countries, including returning Washington residents, should self-quarantine for 14 days after arrival. These persons should limit their interactions to their immediate household; and 2. Washingtonians are encouraged to stay home or in their region and avoid non [1] essential travel to other states or countries. A: The new travel guidance for domestic and international travel has been added to the Managers/Supervisors COVID-19 Guide revision 6. |
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| Governor Inslee got rid of the travel restrictions, are we now able to travel without getting a COVID test? |
Q: Governor Inslee got rid of the travel restrictions, are we now able to travel without getting a COVID test? A: The new travel guidance for domestic and international travel has been added to the Managers/Supervisors COVID-19 Guide revision 6. |
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| Gov. Jay Inslee on March 19, 2021 rescinded his November 2020 Travel Advisory and now advising Washingtonians and others visiting Washington to comply with the Center for Disease Control’s current COVID-19 travel advisory guidance. Are we to expect a chan |
Q: Gov. Jay Inslee on March 19, 2021 rescinded his November 2020 Travel Advisory and now advising Washingtonians and others visiting Washington to comply with the Center for Disease Control's current COVID-19 travel advisory guidance. Are we to expect a change to the travel advisory in accordance with CDC guidance? A: The new travel guidance for domestic and international travel has been added to the Managers/Supervisors COVID-19 Guide revision 6. |
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| There is a lot of talk in the workplace of individuals in various departments who are skeptic of taking any of the vaccines which are available. Enough research has been done to prove that the vaccines are safe and effective, but it seems employees, and a |
Q: There is a lot of talk in the workplace of individuals in various departments who are skeptic of taking any of the vaccines which are available. Enough research has been done to prove that the vaccines are safe and effective, but it seems employees, and a good amount of the general population, are hesitant on taking any of them. What is the Pandemic Response Team doing to educate employees on the vaccines and encourage them to get vaccinated? Fighting against misinformation these days is a constant battle which requires continuous adjustments and timely responses to fake news and propaganda which discourages vaccinating. We must continue to work hard in encouraging employees to get vaccinated and provide well-vetted research data on the effectiveness of the vaccines themselves. A: Thank you for your question. The health and safety of our employees is of the upmost importance at Energy Northwest. The CDC has stated one of the best ways to protect yourself and others against the coronavirus is to get vaccinated and that the expected benefits of the vaccine outweigh the potential risks. You can read the CDC analysis at the links below. Energy Northwest has been fortunate enough to acquire access to enough doses of the vaccine to give all employees the opportunity to be vaccinated if they choose to do so. We recognize that getting the vaccine is a personal choice and do not intend to change our policy of making vaccination voluntary. If you have questions about the vaccine or if it is the right choice for you please review the information on the CDC website or discuss with your personal physician who can assist you with your decision. Please understand however, that some HR policies put in place for the COVID period are set to expire on May 1. After that date, if you are not vaccinated and cannot pass our daily screening criteria, you will need to stay home on personal time or telework if that is an option. The PRT team will continue to provide information and resources on the vaccines on our COVID-19 website and on the digital reader boards throughout ENW. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/index.html
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/index.html
https://covid19.bfhd.wa.gov/covid-19-vaccine-information/
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| We know that when we get vaccinated for any illness, there can be some mild symptoms of the illness against which we were vaccinated. If one is vaccinated and then experiences some mild symptoms, are we still to stay home, even though we know, with a fair |
Q: We know that when we get vaccinated for any illness, there can be some mild symptoms of the illness against which we were vaccinated. If one is vaccinated and then experiences some mild symptoms, are we still to stay home, even though we know, with a fair amount of certainty, that the symptoms are a reaction to being vaccinated? Thank you for clarifying. A: Thanks for the question. Employees are encouraged to stay home whenever they are feeling ill, regardless of cause. While you may feel confident that your symptoms are related to the vaccine, it typically takes two weeks after vaccination for full protection, leaving a chance to contract COVID-19 even after vaccination. Employees should continue to use the COVID-19 screening checklist and doing a temperature check daily regardless of whether they have been vaccinated, as well as wearing a mask while at work and following EN's other COVID-19 guidelines. If you are having symptoms after receiving the vaccine, talk to you supervisor and check-in with a health care professional. |
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| A generic question was brought up, whether if there could be some sort of survey sent out regarding how many of the permanent Essential Employees plan to receive the vaccine if available. It was thought that if initially 300 to 350 vaccines will be avail |
Q: A generic question was brought up, whether if there could be some sort of survey sent out regarding how many of the permanent Essential Employees plan to receive the vaccine if available. It was thought that if initially 300 to 350 vaccines will be available then 1300, for example if only ~600 employees intend to receive the vaccine, those extras could be used elsewhere where others may desire them or for others that for the situation warrant pursuit of the vaccine that are not employed by EN. A: The current process established with the Department of Health allows Energy Northwest employees the opportunity to get the vaccine if they choose to do so. The number of vaccines is important; however, the established number was needed to assist the Department of Health with how many proposed times slots would be needed to support the EN vaccine campaign. If we are under the project allotment of established vaccines and time slots for EN employees, the remaining vaccines and time slots will be administered to the general public through the Department of Health's current process. |
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| Hello, I just received my first vaccination shot yesterday through the employee e-mail appointment schedule date/time link provided to us this week. Will we be receiving another EN worker appointment schedule date/time link in about three weeks or is thi |
Q: Hello, I just received my first vaccination shot yesterday through the employee e-mail appointment schedule date/time link provided to us this week. Will we be receiving another EN worker appointment schedule date/time link in about three weeks or is this something we have to set up on our own for the second shot? A: There will be 3 weeks of links with dates and times offered for the first shots. Followed up by 3 weeks of links with dates and times for the second shot. |
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| We were told in an earlier announcement that EN was going to get the single vaccine and now it's the two phases at the fairgrounds. A lot of employees were excited about getting the single vaccine not the two phases. Why the change? |
Q: We were told in an earlier announcement that EN was going to get the single vaccine and now it's the two phases at the fairgrounds. A lot of employees were excited about getting the single vaccine not the two phases. Why the change? A: You are correct. The original idea was to utilize the Johnson & Johnson vaccine after it was approved for use by the Department of Health. However, the one-dose vaccine has not been readily available to the Department of Health in the quantities that they originally projected. Rather than waiting for the one-dose vaccine and running the risk it wasn't available prior to outage, we decide to use the available resources from the Department of Health in order to provide a vaccine to EN employees prior to R-25. |
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| Last week one of my team members asked, for COVID vaccine being given on-site, would ERO essential members be included i.e. are ERO essential members considered essential for COVID vaccine? Thanks. |
Q: Last week one of my team members asked, for COVID vaccine being given on-site, would ERO essential members be included i.e. are ERO essential members considered essential for COVID vaccine? Thanks. A: We are pleased to announce that COVID-19 vaccinations will be available for Energy Northwest employees beginning this week. The Department of Health has made approximately 1,000 doses available for EN. The pandemic response team will work through managers to send employees a link to sign up for a vaccine appointment. Vaccines will be available first to essential workers in preparation for Refueling and Maintenance Outage 25. We will offer additional appointment dates and times on a week-by-week basis. Vaccines will be given at the Benton County Fairgrounds vaccination site. The vaccine is a two-shot sequence. Employees must bring their EN badge to their appointment to validate employment. All employees are encouraged to get the vaccine. Watch for the email from your manager with the link to sign-up. We anticipate all employees will receive an invitation to get vaccinated within the next three weeks. For questions, contact the pandemic response team or call (509) 377-8715. |
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| Will we be able to be considered essential employees to get vaccinated before the outage? |
Q: Will we be able to be considered essential employees to get vaccinated before the outage? A: We are pleased to announce that COVID-19 vaccinations will be available for Energy Northwest employees beginning this week. The Department of Health has made approximately 1,000 doses available for EN. The pandemic response team will work through managers to send employees a link to sign up for a vaccine appointment. Vaccines will be available first to essential workers in preparation for Refueling and Maintenance Outage 25. We will offer additional appointment dates and times on a week-by-week basis. Vaccines will be given at the Benton County Fairgrounds vaccination site. The vaccine is a two-shot sequence. Employees must bring their EN badge to their appointment to validate employment. All employees are encouraged to get the vaccine. Watch for the email from your manager with the link to sign-up. We anticipate all employees will receive an invitation to get vaccinated within the next three weeks. For questions, contact the pandemic response team or call (509) 377-8715. |
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| Will there be links sent out for the second vaccine? Thanks for setting up the first. |
Q: Will there be links sent out for the second vaccine? Thanks for setting up the first. A: There will be 3 weeks of links with dates and times offered for the first shots. Followed up by 3 weeks of links with dates and times for the second shot. |
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| As announced 2/17/21 "Vaccines will be administered through one of the state's mobile vaccination units at the Columbia Generating Station site". Operations department personnel shift workers are unable to leave the protected area while on shift. Is there |
Q: As announced 2/17/21 "Vaccines will be administered through one of the state's mobile vaccination units at the Columbia Generating Station site". Operations department personnel shift workers are unable to leave the protected area while on shift. Is there a plan to make accommodations for rotating shift personnel restricted to the protected area, with regards to the above-mentioned plan? Please consider all rotating shift positions: Operations, Maintenance, HP, Laborers, Chemistry, and Security. Thank you for your time and diligence to excellence. A: After considering the necessary infrastructure associated with the vaccination process, management and County health officials have determined that the best approach will be for the shots to be given at an existing vaccination location. The senior leadership team is developing plans with support from local and state health officials to provide Energy Northwest mission-essential workers priority access to the COVID-19 vaccines. One of the many items we are addressing during the development phase are available dates and times to support shift workers. Both state and local officials understand our need to have diverse available times to support this process. We will take the necessary safety measures to ensure we have a successful refueling and maintenance outage this spring. We will provide more information once we establish the final plan. |
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| There have been no new positive tests of employees reported for a couple of weeks now. Is this because there have been no new positive test results reported, or because EN has stopped tracking/reporting positive test results? |
Q: There have been no new positive tests of employees reported for a couple of weeks now. Is this because there have been no new positive test results reported, or because EN has stopped tracking/reporting positive test results? A: The Pandemic Response Team is still monitoring and tracking cases. EN had no new cases to report for few weeks. This is a good time to remember that while we have seen cases decrease as the vaccine becomes more available, COVID is still with us. Protect yourself and your co-workers by continuing to use COVID-safe practices at home and work: self-screen, wear a mask, stay socially distant and wash your hands frequently. |
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| Do the face temperature checking devices we are using need calibrated? If so, are we accomplishing this? I check my temperature when I come to work and get a temperature of 96.4 more than 75% of the days. This seems highly unusual to me. |
Q: Do the face temperature checking devices we are using need calibrated? If so, are we accomplishing this? I check my temperature when I come to work and get a temperature of 96.4 more than 75% of the days. This seems highly unusual to me. A: The 7" tablet Facial Temperature Monitors uses a temperature sensor thermal array that does not require calibration after implementation. A review of the vendors documentation confirms that a calibration is not required for the style of temperature monitor used at Energy Northwest. |
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| Are the elevators going to have attendants this outage again? Specifically I believe there will be a need due to COVID, we will need to be making sure less people are on the elevators at a time and also make sure people are wearing their masks etc. this w |
Q: Are the elevators going to have attendants this outage again? Specifically I believe there will be a need due to COVID, we will need to be making sure less people are on the elevators at a time and also make sure people are wearing their masks etc. this would help also with the overloading of elevators and also ensure everyone is taking steps to be safe and not break the elevators and wearing masks/complying with COVID guidelines. A: The Outage High Impact Team (HIT) is currently creating teams to maintain elevator attendants for R25. In past refueling outages the elevator attendants' primary function was to ensure the elevators were efficiently and correctly used. With the added COVID-19 precautions, the Outage HIT has also gathered operating experience from other stations to ensure safe practices and established behaviors will be followed to ensure the safety of all employees during R25. |
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| Up until recently, we have been told that Energy Northwest would not try to force people to be vaccinated for COVID-19. But now we're told that if we're not vaccinated, we would not qualify for supplemental PT if we contract the virus. We're told to talk |
Q: Up until recently, we have been told that Energy Northwest would not try to force people to be vaccinated for COVID-19. But now we're told that if we're not vaccinated, we would not qualify for supplemental PT if we contract the virus. We're told to talk to our HR generalist if we have religious objections. But what do I tell my HR generalist if my objection is not religious, but practical? This seems a lot like a back door to requiring us to put something in our bodies we may not need (because we are not at-risk individuals) and that has unknown long-term effects. The mRNA technology in these vaccines has never been approved for use in humans anywhere in the world until now. The side effects have been too severe. Now, we're told that a rushed process proves a safe vaccine. Sure, all the boxes may have been checked, but what about long-term effects that take more than eight weeks to discover? Just look at Thalidomide. It was marketed as a safe drug, and available over the counter in many places in Europe. It was given to pregnant women to relieve some of the issues that come with pregnancy. It was only after it had been used for a few years that it was discovered to cause serious birth defects in those children, with 40% dying shortly after birth. Many of us do not trust these vaccines and should not be forced to procure them. A: I appreciate your question – not only because we always appreciate the opportunity to respond to concerns or comments, but even more because it gives me the opportunity to explain the difficult decisions that the leadership team must make each day as we attempt to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic in a responsible way. As the Pandemic Response Team has stated previously, there are two fundamental principles that govern every decision we make: maintaining the safety of our employees and continuing to provide safe, reliable and cost-effective power to our region. As previously communicated, Energy Northwest will not mandate any employee get a vaccination. That is a very personal choice that should be made by the employee and may require input from their personal health care provider. Whatever the employee decides is acceptable. That said, employees who remain virus free are more available for work (safe, reliable, cost-effective power) and pose less risk to others in the workplace (safe workplace). Once vaccinated, Energy Northwest has a greater ability to rely on that employee's availability and their reduced risk to coworkers. Under the most recent CDC guidance, vaccinated individuals are also able to avoid quarantine if they are inadvertently exposed, meaning Energy Northwest can be even more confident that they will remain able to perform their function. In addition to this practical advantage, Energy Northwest is a public entity and is governed by Washington state requirements applicable to publicly funded agencies. One aspect of those requirements is the prohibition of "gifting of public funds." This is a complex determination in normal circumstances that has been made much more difficult by the Governor's declaration of a public health emergency within the state. Consistent with guidance issued by the State Attorney General, public agencies may use public funds to pay employee salaries IF this payment is done to protect the safety of other employees. Therefore, those employees who get vaccinated or are ready, willing and able to be vaccinated as soon as the vaccine is available to them will be recognized for their contribution to the continued safety of the workforce through continued access to supplemental leave time. Those who decline the vaccine will continue to have access to their own personal time but will not be paid for non-productive time that may have been avoided if they had been vaccinated. In this way, Energy Northwest can achieve the two fundamental principles discussed above while not forcing any employee to do something they oppose and also not violating the legal requirements applicable to its operation. While not easy, we must continually determine the most prudent actions that will minimize the opportunity for a significant percentage of our employees contracting the infection at any one time and adversely affecting safe operations. Further, we must continue to make prudent financial decisions for cost effective operations and for the region. We believe the approach we have laid out for continued use of supplemental leave strikes the appropriate balance while still respecting the choices made by our employees. |
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| In Brads email he said he would not make us get vaccinated to come back to work. It appears now that if we get sick after Feb 1st, we cannot use our COVID sick time unless we do agree to be vaccinated. This is not fair. |
Q: In Brads email he said he would not make us get vaccinated to come back to work. It appears now that if we get sick after Feb 1st, we cannot use our COVID sick time unless we do agree to be vaccinated. This is not fair. •Once the vaccine is available, supplemental leave (SLP) or non-productive work orders for COVID-positive or quarantining employees will only be available for employees who have been vaccinated or can demonstrate an attempt to be vaccinated (medial/religious exemptions available). A: I appreciate your question – not only because we always appreciate the opportunity to respond to concerns or comments, but even more because it gives me the opportunity to explain the difficult decisions that the leadership team must make each day as we attempt to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic in a responsible way. As the Pandemic Response Team has stated previously, there are two fundamental principles that govern every decision we make: maintaining the safety of our employees and continuing to provide safe, reliable and cost-effective power to our region. As previously communicated, Energy Northwest will not mandate any employee get a vaccination. That is a very personal choice that should be made by the employee and may require input from their personal health care provider. Whatever the employee decides is acceptable. That said, employees who remain virus free are more available for work (safe, reliable, cost-effective power) and pose less risk to others in the workplace (safe workplace). Once vaccinated, Energy Northwest has a greater ability to rely on that employee's availability and their reduced risk to coworkers. Under the most recent CDC guidance, vaccinated individuals are also able to avoid quarantine if they are inadvertently exposed, meaning Energy Northwest can be even more confident that they will remain able to perform their function. In addition to this practical advantage, Energy Northwest is a public entity and is governed by Washington state requirements applicable to publicly funded agencies. One aspect of those requirements is the prohibition of "gifting of public funds." This is a complex determination in normal circumstances that has been made much more difficult by the Governor's declaration of a public health emergency within the state. Consistent with guidance issued by the State Attorney General, public agencies may use public funds to pay employee salaries IF this payment is done to protect the safety of other employees. Therefore, those employees who get vaccinated or are ready, willing and able to be vaccinated as soon as the vaccine is available to them will be recognized for their contribution to the continued safety of the workforce through continued access to supplemental leave time. Those who decline the vaccine will continue to have access to their own personal time but will not be paid for non-productive time that may have been avoided if they had been vaccinated. In this way, Energy Northwest can achieve the two fundamental principles discussed above while not forcing any employee to do something they oppose and also not violating the legal requirements applicable to its operation. While not easy, we must continually determine the most prudent actions that will minimize the opportunity for a significant percentage of our employees contracting the infection at any one time and adversely affecting safe operations. Further, we must continue to make prudent financial decisions for cost effective operations and for the region. We believe the approach we have laid out for continued use of supplemental leave strikes the appropriate balance while still respecting the choices made by our employees. |
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| Many people have questions about R25 being a super spreader, as I've read on this quorum. Will people who can do their work from home be encouraged to do so? In some cases, should it not be mandatory, if for no other reason then to have less "non essentia |
Q: Many people have questions about R25 being a super spreader, as I've read on this quorum. Will people who can do their work from home be encouraged to do so? In some cases, should it not be mandatory, if for no other reason than to have less "non-essential" people on site and around people who must do "hands on" work in the plant? I would hope that you would want to have the least amount of people on site as possible, to put your hands-on people in a better position to be able to socially distance and stay healthy? Thank you. A: The Refueling and Maintenance Outage 25 is quickly approaching. An important measure of our success is reliable and safe operation of Columbia Generating Station for the following full cycle. The Pandemic Response Team released a new COVID-19 Restart Policy in line with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The strategy and actions outlined in this document will guide our workforce as we bring more employees on-site to support Refueling and Maintenance Outage 25. It is important that essential outage employees acclimate to working on-site and re-establish a strong culture of direct, personal interaction and foster the teamwork necessary for outage success. These changes will begin taking effect in February, with full implementation by March 1. Due to the nature of outage working conditions and the close coordination with co-workers we continue to monitor and evaluate our plan. Our benchmarking showed us that a couple utilities that had outages during the pandemic outbreak saw significant impacts to their outages and business while others fared much better. A predominate driver to a successful outage during the pandemic related to wearing face coverings and limiting our interactions when not at work. The Outage Pandemic High Impact Team (HIT) continues to work on a comprehensive plan based on the gathered OE. More information on the comprehensive plan for R25 will be provided at the upcoming All Employee meeting on February 8. Additionally, a whitepaper will be available to employees by February 28, 2021 with more detailed information. The Outage Pandemic HIT has 7 sub-teams of people working together to ensure that R25 is accomplished safely and on schedule through proactive planning on how to mitigate expected challenges. The Pandemic Outage High Impact Team is also putting together a tool to be reactive to site conditions and adapt our work as required. Not everyone will be required to be on-site to support R25. Individual managers will work with their teams to ensure that those employees who need to be onsite to support R25 will be. Remember, everyone at Columbia has an important role during R25. By having a questioning attitude, elevating equipment issues, and pursuing excellence in work execution and dose reduction, we will have a successful outage. |
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| Can you please tell us more about the work the R25 pandemic HIT team is doing? There's a lot of information on the R25 site concerning benchmarking that has been done at other plants who did outages during the pandemic, files of ideas and potential things |
Q: Can you please tell us more about the work the R25 pandemic HIT team is doing? There's a lot of information on the R25 site concerning benchmarking that has been done at other plants who did outages during the pandemic, files of ideas and potential things that can be done to minimize risk; but no comprehensive CGS plan for R25. Without a comprehensive plan of actions to be taken, it seems to me that our plan is nothing more than hope that the things we're currently doing will work. Some more communication from the HIT team on the actions they're taking, considering, or need help with would be appreciated. A: The Refueling and Maintenance Outage 25 is quickly approaching. An important measure of our success is reliable and safe operation of Columbia Generating Station for the following full cycle. The Pandemic Response Team released a new COVID-19 Restart Policy in line with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The strategy and actions outlined in this document will guide our workforce as we bring more employees on-site to support Refueling and Maintenance Outage 25. It is important that essential outage employees acclimate to working on-site and re-establish a strong culture of direct, personal interaction and foster the teamwork necessary for outage success. These changes will begin taking effect in February, with full implementation by March 1. Due to the nature of outage working conditions and the close coordination with co-workers we continue to monitor and evaluate our plan. Our benchmarking showed us that a couple utilities that had outages during the pandemic outbreak saw significant impacts to their outages and business while others fared much better. A predominate driver to a successful outage during the pandemic related to wearing face coverings and limiting our interactions when not at work. The Outage Pandemic High Impact Team (HIT) continues to work on a comprehensive plan based on the gathered OE. More information on the comprehensive plan for R25 will be provided at the upcoming All Employee meeting on February 8. Additionally, a whitepaper will be available to employees by February 28, 2021 with more detailed information. The Outage Pandemic HIT has 7 sub-teams of people working together to ensure that R25 is accomplished safely and on schedule through proactive planning on how to mitigate expected challenges. The Pandemic Outage High Impact Team is also putting together a tool to be reactive to site conditions and adapt our work as required. Not everyone will be required to be on-site to support R25. Individual managers will work with their teams to ensure that those employees who need to be onsite to support R25 will be. Remember, everyone at Columbia has an important role during R25. By having a questioning attitude, elevating equipment issues, and pursuing excellence in work execution and dose reduction, we will have a successful outage. |
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| After receiving the vaccine, are we allowed to return to work or must we quarantine ourselves? |
Q: After receiving the vaccine, are we allowed to return to work, or must we quarantine ourselves? A: Given the limited amount of information on how much the mRNA COVID-19 vaccine may reduce transmission in the general population and how long a vaccine will provide protection against the virus, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends vaccinated people should continue to follow all current CDC guidance to protect themselves and others. This includes wearing a mask, staying at least 6 feet away from others and washing hands often. At this time EN will continue following CDC quarantine guidance after exposure to someone with COVID-19. EN employees must also continue to conduct a daily screening and be able to check NO on all boxes prior to return. If employees are able to check NO on all question they may return to work. As many things related to COVID continue to evolve and change on a nearly daily basis, the Pandemic Response Team will monitor and adjust based upon CDC recommendations and guidance. |
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| I'm a licensed operator, so I'm essential and can't do my job from home. As of yet I'm ineligible for the vaccine. More people are testing positive very day, meaning that my chances of getting COVID are rising every day. What will EN do to get essenti |
Q: I'm a licensed operator, so I'm essential and can't do my job from home. As of yet I'm ineligible for the vaccine. More people are testing positive every day, meaning that my chances of getting COVID are rising every day. What will EN do to get essential workers vaccinated NOW? We can't get through R-25 or start up the plant if our essential staff are out sick or in quarantine. A: The Senior Leadership Team has requested support from local and state governmental authorities in providing mission-essential workers at Energy Northwest priority access to the COVID-19 vaccines that are currently being distributed in the state. Brad Sawatzke sent an urgent letter to Gov. Jay Inslee and has personally spoken with Lisa Brown, head of Washington State Dept. of Commerce, to request prioritization of our essential employees. At our request, Nuclear Energy Institute CEO Maria Korsnick also sent a letter to the governor and senior state officials. In addition, agency representatives have had numerous conversations with state legislators, agency officials, the state Emergency Operations Center and Drew Shirk, Chief of Staff to Governor Jay Inslee. Energy Northwest is currently awaiting their response; and information will be communicated to all employees once EN receives feedback from these discussions. It's also worth noting that EN established the Pandemic Outage Readiness Team for R-25 back in early July 2020, which has gathered operating experience from those stations that have successfully performed refueling outages without the presence or availability of a vaccine. EN continues to develop measures to protect employees from COVID-19 and will take necessary steps to ensure we have a successful refueling outage this spring. |
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| Would it be possible to add a link to the Phase Finder on the Covid 19 page? Thank you! |
Q: Would it be possible to add a link to the Phase Finder on the Covid 19 page? Thank you! A: The Pandemic Response Team is currently evaluating this as an option. In the interim the PhaseFinder link can be found on the current. - Go to theCurrent
- Type PhaseFinder (oneword) in search bar upper right corner, hit enter
- Click on EN News link "State expands vaccination efforts
- Click link PhaseFinder
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| We have marked the floor in the PAAP every 6 feet for social distancing in the East-West direction. However, when we open up both sides of an X-ray machine, people are only separated by the width of the belt (about 3 feet) in the North-South direction. |
Q: We have marked the floor in the PAAP every 6 feet for social distancing in the East-West direction. However, when we open both sides of an X-ray machine, people are only separated by the width of the belt (about 3 feet) in the North-South direction. So, we have two lines of people that are only standing 3 feet apart. A: Social distancing does greatly reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19 to someone else. When everyone in an area maintains social distance, the chances of getting the virus drops. The risk is of spreading COVID-19 is even further reduced for those who are in close contact for less than 15 minutes based upon CDC close contact guidance. Security understands this and makes every attempt to limit times when adjacent search lanes are to be opened. There are circumstances that do not allow for this to occur. In those rare occasions it is important to limit your time in the area and ensure employees are properly adhering to the EN mask policy. Additional measures are being evaluated by the Outage Pandemic High Impact Team in preparation for R-25. |
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| with the vaccination rolling out and the side effects of the vaccination being similar to the actual virus, will there be updates made to the screening checklist to account for this? if not, it may make individuals unnecessarily stay home due to side effe |
Q: With the vaccination rolling out and the side effects of the vaccination being similar to the actual virus, will there be updates made to the screening checklist to account for this? if not, it may make individuals unnecessarily stay home due to side effects from the vaccine. A: Because systemic post-vaccination signs and symptoms might be challenging to distinguish from signs and symptoms of COVID-19 or other illnesses, employees are encouraged to continue to use the EN screening criteria each day prior to reporting to work. Using precautionary, selective screening affords a measure of protection to our employees that is in the best interest of our co-workers and family. If an employee has received the vaccine, but they are not able to pass the screening checklist, then they can charge hours to their Supplemental Leave (SLP) until exhausted (up to 80 hrs.) and if they still cannot pass the screening requirements, then regular/project employees can charge the COVID-19 Non-productive work orders as necessary until screening criteria is met and they have been cleared to return to work. |
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| If I get a vaccine will I still have to wear a mask at work? |
Q: If I get a vaccine will I still have to wear a mask at work? A: Given the limited amount of information on how much the mRNA COVID-19 vaccine may reduce transmission in the general population and how long a vaccine will provide protection against the virus, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends vaccinated people should continue to follow all current CDC guidance to protect themselves and others. This includes wearing a mask, staying at least 6 feet away from others and washing hands often. At this time EN will continue following CDC quarantine guidance after exposure to someone with COVID-19. As many things related to COVID continue to evolve and change on a nearly daily basis, the Pandemic Response Team will monitor and adjust based upon CDC recommendations and guidance. |
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| In previous Q/A it was mentioned that essential employees will be eligible to get the vaccine in Phase 1B. As this phase has already started in WA, is there a plan for who will get the vaccine? and by when? Also, what is the plan for non-essential employe |
Q: In previous Q/A it was mentioned that essential employees will be eligible to get the vaccine in Phase 1B. As this phase has already started in WA, is there a plan for who will get the vaccine? and by when? Also, what is the plan for non-essential employees? A: As with many things related to COVID, the rules and regulations change on a nearly daily basis. While early drafts of the states vaccine distribution plan listed all "critical infrastructure workers" as being in Phase 1B, the plan actually put in place does not. Some subsets of the critical infrastructure list were included in 1B, but most were not. While Energy Northwest encourages all employees to get the vaccine if they are able to, it is unlikely that Energy Northwest will ever be able to directly administer the vaccine to our employees. That makes vaccination a very personal issue that you will each need to pursue on your own to address your individual situation. We recommend: - Go to the FindYourPhaseWA.org website and take the survey.
- When you reach the critical infrastructure question click on the info button and read to ensure that you meet the requirements for designation as a critical infrastructure employee. The details of the electrical sector worker are included below.
- If the result of the survey is that you are not currently eligible, the system will offer to notify you when you are. Even if you choose this option, we recommend you periodically retake the survey, especially if you know the state phase is changing.
- If the survey says you are eligible, follow the instructions to get an appointment.
- There may be special circumstances, such as the establishment of the mass vaccination clinic at the Benton County Fairgrounds next week, that end up creating opportunities outside of the FindYourPhase process. Please keep yourself informed on what is going on in the community and we will strive to put information of that type out as we become aware of it.
While it is not clear we will ever have an elevated priority for nuclear workers, or be able to administer a vaccine ourselves, we are working hard with the state government and our national lobbying agency, Nuclear Energy Institute, to accomplish that. In the meantime, you will each have to get personally involved in the vaccination process in order to get vaccinated. |
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| The Governor announced the "Healthy Washington - Roadmap to Recovery" phased COVID recovery plan on Jan 5, 2021 to start January 11th where all regions will go back to a new Phase 1 and will need to meet certain criteria to go to Phase 2. These phases hav |
Q: The Governor announced the "Healthy Washington - Roadmap to Recovery" phased COVID recovery plan on Jan 5, 2021 to start January 11th where all regions will go back to a new Phase 1 and will need to meet certain criteria to go to Phase 2. These phases have different requirements than the previous Phase 1 and 2 in the safe start plan. How will this new plan impact the phased COVID recovery approach at Columbia? A: On Jan. 5, Gov. Jay Inslee announced "Healthy Washington — Roadmap to Recovery," a COVID-19 phased recovery plan. As an essential business, our current state of business operations are not impacted by the Healthy Washington plan. Energy Northwest will remain at Phase D of our return-to-work plan until further notice. We will continue to conduct meetings, including core business meetings, virtually to the fullest extent possible. The number of workers on-site will increase as we gear up for the spring refueling and maintenance outage. A safe and successful outage is critical to the reliable operation of Columbia Generating Station. Our outage planning efforts include proactive steps to ensure worker health and safety remain a top priority, including the establishment of a pandemic outage high impact team. Strict adherence to our screening, social distancing and facial covering guidance while at work remains vital as we ramp up for the outage. As always, all employees are encouraged to protect themselves at home and in public settings by maintaining appropriate social distancing, wearing facial coverings as warranted and frequent hand washing. |
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| How can you properly contact trace after a positive COVID-19 case when people are not aware of who has tested positive? Being in a support group, we come in contact with a lot of different workers throughout the day while also working with several differe |
Q: How can you properly contact trace after a positive COVID-19 case when people are not aware of who has tested positive? Being in a support group, we come in contact with a lot of different workers throughout the day while also working with several different departments. We even Survey other groups offices, work areas & break rooms. When an individual has tested positive, can they be asked if it's okay to identify them so we can properly contact trace? IMO, our current methods are lacking. I know there are rules regarding HIPAA, but I believe our contact tracing measures are lacking. I can see this being a problem come outage time, when the amount of personnel that are on-site has increased tremendously. A: When there is a confirmed positive case, or suspected positive exposure, in coordination with the Pandemic Response Team, the responsible department initiates contract tracing efforts using the Managers Supervisors Contact Tracing Form. Namely, who did the employee have close contact with, for how long, and what locations did they visit. Based on this feedback, the Pandemic Response Team reaches out to the potentially affected individuals to discuss the contact and the next steps. Please keep in mind that this information is considered sensitive and is shared on a need to know basis. Company-wide communications including news articles, text messages and employee advisory log entries are presented to provide as much information as possible while protecting the sensitive information. Facilities also plays a valuable role when areas are identified during the contact tracing process. Any areas that the employee may have visited are thoroughly cleaned after a 24-hour waiting period based upon guidance published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Facial coverings are a critical defense in preventing the spread of the Coronavirus. The coverings protect both the employee, and more importantly, their coworkers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends covering of the nose and mouth to slow the spread of COVID-19. Non-medical grade coverings are encouraged, e.g. bandanas, fabric masks, neck gaiters and homemade coverings. A comprehensive approach to combat the virus is necessary, social distancing, use of masks and diligent hygiene practices remain in effect as our company's overall strategy for keeping everyone safe. This should result in almost no one having any close contact at work. This is our first layer of defense. Close contact is the rare exception and employees should follow this comprehensive approach and conduct themselves per our policy to avoid potential exposure. As always employees are encouraged to reach out to their supervisor if they have any questions or concerns regarding COVID-19 related issues. Employees are also encouraged to utilize the Pandemic Response Hotline at (509) 377-8715 for additional support. |
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| Have we replaced the HVAC system filters with HEPA filters inside the Deschutes and Kootenai buildings to stop Droplet and Airborne transmissions? Especially now we have about 60 cases and some of them were on site while infected. |
Q: Have we replaced the HVAC system filters with HEPA filters inside the Deschutes and Kootenai buildings to stop Droplet and Airborne transmissions? Especially now we have about 60 cases and some of them were on site while infected. A: EN has not replaced any filters with HEPA filters. HEPA filters have a larger pressure drop across the filter, which would require larger motors and fans to achieve the same air flow. The Deschutes and Kootenai buildings have two stages of filtration, there is a 4" pre-filtration system followed by 12" final filters. Facilities replaces the filters at regular PM frequencies. Facilities has replaced several of the smaller building's HVAC filters with a higher MERV rating filter as recommended by ASHRAE to capture more droplets and reduce the spread of airborne transmissions. EN continues to follow published guidance by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for addressing COVID-19 concerns, including self-screening guidelines, social distancing and routine cleaning and disinfecting of common areas. Individuals are encouraged to self-screen daily, observe social distancing and practice good hygiene protocols to limit potential exposure to COVID-19. |
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| Where does our ESSENTIAL employees fall in the states scheduling of vaccinations? Are they consider industry essentials under the state’s Phase 2? |
Q: Where does our ESSENTIAL employees fall in the states scheduling of vaccinations? Are they consider industry essentials under the state's Phase 2?
A: The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) has indicated that Energy Northwest's essential workers will be included in Phase 1B of the COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan. The Pandemic Response Team continues to monitor the state's plan and will advise employees when the vaccine will be available to them in Phase 1B. The WA DOH has indicated that movement to Phase 1B will depend on the supply of the vaccine that they receive. The latest information we have is that the start of Phase 1B will be sometime in late January. |
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| To date, EN has had 55 positive COVID cases. 19 of those cases involve personnel in Operations Support, which accounts for 34% of the total cases. Since 11/1, that department accounts for 57% of the cases reported, with approximately 12% of that departme |
Q: To date, EN has had 55 positive COVID cases. 19 of those cases involve personnel in Operations Support, which accounts for 34% of the total cases. Since 11/1, that department accounts for 57% of the cases reported, with approximately 12% of that department having tested positive. By comparison, other departments have had positivity rates in the low single digits. Granted, Operations Support is a large department, and probably has the most potential exposure when at work due to all the contractor and delivery vehicle inspections, as well as manning the security checkpoint at the protected area entrance. Has the pandemic team evaluated this data and identified any particularly risky portions of the job that could be mitigated, or any behaviors in the department that could account for this higher number of cases? Given that Operations Support personnel are essential, is this high positivity rate is placing the rest of the essential personnel at higher risk? A: Thank you for the question. I'd ask you to review a question that is being posted regarding the Operations Support Org structure. In short, the Ops Support Org is much larger than just Security. That being said, Security as well as many other departments work with the COVID Pandemic Response Team to continually look for ways to make our workplace safe and prevent the spread of COVID. To date, no one from the entire Ops Support Org has contracted COVID due to work exposure. Management of the entire organization continually works with and reminds their employees to institute safe practices at home and in the public to prevent exposure. Specifically, Security has gone to great lengths to ensure its employees have all the latest data and cleaning supplies due to the nature of their work. Previous questions posted on the COVID website outline those actions. With this in mind we are open to any and all ideas to make our workplace even safer. |
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