My name is Debbie Kozak, and I am a Commonwealth of Virginia Employee and a member of the American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME). I have been working in the mental health field for 36 years and when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, thankfully my agency granted my physician’s request to telework. I am living with health conditions that put me at a higher risk of exposure and impact from the coronavirus.
Recently, when our workplace began preparing for the implementation of an electronic health records system, I struggled to obtain an accommodation to attend the related training virtually, rather than on-site. That’s why we need the standards in place that protect us from having to enter an unsafe work environment to be made permanent. We need strong enforcement mechanisms so that employers in Virginia know that safety of employees and our citizens comes first.
What we have seen in health facilities across Virginia and around the country is that there is a higher likelihood of a single infection turning into an outbreak due to the close living quarters for patients and working spaces with staff. Couple that with the dynamics of the risks of exposure from visitors and employees who routinely come in and out of our facilities and back into the community. I am afraid for our staff and their families and especially our patients, and every measure should be taken to protect us.
Please make the Emergency Temporary Standard permanent. In doing so there are two minor technical areas to please consider:
The permanent standard and its provisions should take immediate effect on January 27, 2021
·???The proposed permanent standard extended dates for implementation of training and other measures, even though employers have been complying with the same requirements under the ETS. We want to make sure there is no lapse in health and safety protections and avoid confusion.
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The standard has language that allows the use of face coverings in place of respirators, if not readily available. Face coverings will not provide the adequate protection that workers need if they need to use a respirator.
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·??? Proposed Permanent Standard below.
Until adequate supplies of respiratory protection and/or personal protective equipment become readily available for non-medical and non-first responder employers and employees, employers shall provide, and employees shall wear face coverings while occupying a work vehicle with other employees or persons.?I strongly oppose the language and it needs to be removed.
The Coronavirus continues to ravage communities across the country, and we have had a sense of pride in the Commonwealth of Virginia moving swiftly to protect our workplaces and communities being the first in the nation to enact such protections. Please continue this leadership to make these workplace standards permanent.