Federal Daily - April 28, 2009

OPM Issues Swine Flu Precautions for Federal Workers

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) on April 26 issued precautions federal workers should take if they encounter someone infected with swine flu, which has killed over 100 in Mexico. Federal employees working along the border should be especially vigilant, OPM said. The OPM memo advised that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended that federal employees should maintain a distance of at least six feet between themselves and someone who appears infected. Also, employees should use N95 surgical masks if they must be closer than six feet, the memo said. As always, hand-washing is suggested following frequent contact, the memo said. Although the precautions are “intended primarily for employees who work at locations in which they may come in contact with people carrying the swine flu virus,” OPM said, “we believe much of this information is of benefit to all employees to maintain awareness in what may be a rapidly changing environment.” In the affected areas, OPM and affected federal agencies will review preparations for potential high employee absenteeism that could be caused by the spread of the illness or the closure of schools and daycare centers, the memo said. To see more, go to: www.chcoc.gov/Transmittals/TransmittalDetails.aspx?
TransmittalId=2227.

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Coast Guard Launches Health, Safety and Work-Life Support Activity

The Coast Guard will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony on April 28 in Norfolk, Va., to celebrate the launch of the service’s new Health, Safety and Work-Life Support Activity. The new activity will unify all health, safety and work-life services into a single business line, the Coast Guard said in a statement. The new activity will be composed of four functional divisions in Norfolk, Va, a West Coast detachment in Oakland, Calif., and 13 subordinate detached units. The activity will be staffed by 109 U.S. Public Health Service members, 497 active-duty Coast Guard members, 19 Coast Guard Reserve members and 149 civilian employees, the Coast Guard said. Components will include business management and analysis, operational medicine, medical administration, safety and environmental health, and work-life. To see more, go to: www.piersystem.com/go/doc/786/269594.

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President Obama Announces Process for Federal Employee Input

In his weekly address, President Obama on April 25 said administration officials will soon establish a process for government employees who want to submit ideas on how their agency can save money and perform better. It is part of the president’s pledge to eliminate federal waste and increase efficiency. “We’ll look for ideas from the bottom up,” Obama said. “After all, Americans across the country know that the best ideas often come from workers—not just management.” Obama said employees’ suggestions will be reviewed and the workable ones will be put into practice. Obama also promised to meet later this year with those who come up with the best ideas to improve the function of government. To see more, go to: www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Weekly-Address-President-Obama-Announces-Steps-to-Reform-Government-and-Promote-Fiscal-Discipline.

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