Guidance regarding extended shelter-in-place orders

Local, state and national response to the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve, with the state of California establishing a four-stage plan to slowly modify its shelter-in-place order and Bay Area counties extending their shelter-in-place orders through May. Under the extended Alameda County order, current restrictions will largely remain, with limited easing for a small number of lower-risk activities.

Consistent with state and local orders that provide an exemption for critical infrastructure sectors and essential government functions, Lawrence Livermore has resumed targeted on-site work in support of specific mission-essential activities. The Laboratory remains in a posture deemed “Reduced Mission-Critical Operations” by the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA).

Employees involved in work that requires on-site support are notified individually by their supervisors. No employee should return to the Laboratory for any reason without specific authorization from their management until further notice.

Employees who are not working on site should continue their current posture, whether telecommuting, on authorized leave or some other form of leave. Employees should continue to follow current time-charging guidance. Any time-charging updates will be provided should the Laboratory receive additional direction from NNSA.

Over the coming weeks, LLNL will continue to slowly increase on-site work to respond to NNSA’s mission-essential needs and the Laboratory’s national security responsibilities. Protecting the health and safety of the workforce remains the priority as work resumes. Restart plans are informed by guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and federal, state and local authorities, and will be adapted as required by the developing situation.

Employee health and safety

In response to evolving health guidelines, the Laboratory now requires all on-site personnel to use face coverings. Click here for more information on this policy.

In addition to a number of formalized work control processes and training, the Health Services Department (HSD) has assembled a set of protocols to respond in the event the Laboratory sees COVID-19 on site. For more information, see “Managing COVID-19 Cases to Prevent Infection Transmission in the Workplace.”

HSD is responsible for identifying, tracking and performing follow-up case management of Laboratory workers who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 (either by testing or by symptoms alone), and any coworkers who have had significant contact with the affected individual. Workers who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 in the last 30 days must contact HSD, either by phone at (925) 422-6843 (COVID) or covid19 [at] llnl.gov (email).

For more information, including employee reporting responsibilities, response measures, notifications and more, see a series of recently updated FAQs from HSD.

Training

“Working Safely at LLNL During the COVID-19 Pandemic (HS4440-WU01)” is required for all Lab employees. The course has been recently updated as reflected in hte slightly modified course number, and anyone who has taken it before April 27 is required to retake the class before they return on site. New information is highlighted in the course.

Employees may access the training via LTRAIN using their VPN account or by clicking here. If using VPN, be sure to click the “I am onsite” tab to receive credit. Employees should charge time for taking the class to 40415/GET HS4440-W COVID-19.

Employee resources

The COVID-19 employee hotline remains available at (925) 422-6843 (COVID). Employees also can access a regularly updated list of Frequently Asked Questions and a compilation of helpful information. Employees with questions not answered by the FAQs and listed resources also may reach out to covid19 [at] llnl.gov (this email).

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Note: The links in the above communication are internal LLNL links and may not work in all situations.