January 2019 – July 2022
Psychology professor James Reason uses Swiss cheese to explain how layering defenses mitigate threats. The idea is that a lapse at one layer does not allow a risk to materialize since other defenses prevent a single point of failure. It also works in halting the spread of COVID-19. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MbNoHy6onC0Io_af-uLlfLWKOSrEpiPT/view?usp=sharing
The Oct. 15 issue of the Return to Work newsletter includes a director’s update and information on the Building Capacity Report and procedures for reporting cases of COVID-19 at the Lab. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1doyPtqcCutC90YDqkO_bqVUGB2lCtgoH/view?usp=sharing
Lab Director Mike Witherell has charted the relative COVID-19 intensity in some states, indicating that the upper midwest and plains states are still in a surge. The Bay Area continues to fare well compared to the rest of the United States. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1urstkF8797p0N7dV_eDVt4iX0pmDdn3X/view?usp=sharing
The Oct. 2 issue of the Return to Work Newsletter included a COVID-19 planning update and information on flu shots, administrative leave extensions, and vacation donations. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WYYG1ST2bRatGRbr15UVOlb_OIAaZY2U/view?usp=sharing
Get information on the latest COVID-19 trends and planning, building ventilation systems, and providing feedback in the Sept. 25 issue of the Return to Work Newsletter. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AeUkmbJGtZyDimzEaOxRGJJuxmxfnHTy/view?usp=sharing
Recently two working groups reviewed the air quality in Lab buildings in light of COVID-19 and wildfire smoke. Five of the group members will take questions tomorrow, Sept. 23, in a noon brown bag session. You can learn more in this roundtable interview with the panelists prior to the brown bag. https://stratcomm-elements.lbl.gov/2020/09/21/air-quality-at-the-lab/
Join five working group members from two Lab working groups in a brown bag session on Wednesday, Sept. 23, at noon. The working groups looked at air quality in light of COVID-19 and how wildfire smoke can be mitigated in our buildings. Learn more about their recommendations. https://calendar.google.com/event?action=TEMPLATE&tmeid=MTBqczVjam92Z3VvMThsMzgyOXZvb2MxanUgbGJsLmdvdl80czRycmcxMmw2ZXFnNm5jbWMya3QwdmNnZ0Bn&tmsrc=lbl.gov_4s4rrg12l6eqg6ncmc2kt0vcgg%40group.calendar.google.com
This week the Lab has proposed to DOE to move into Federal Phase 2 and add an additional 300 workers at the Lab sites starting September 28. The numbers will be adjusted up or down in the coming months based on the COVID-19 conditions in our local community and with DOE approval. https://covid.lbl.gov/
Lab Director Mike Witherell closely follows COVID-19 case trends in the Bay Area and the state. In this week’s chart, he looks at how the Bay Area counties line up against the Bay Area, state, and U.S. trends. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dRBW9ruprXSmO_EqolX4mGXyC3LtO8iy/view
Employees took up the challenge from the ergonomics team and shared how they constructed a home workspace. Kenneth Kievit from EHS started in the closet to have fewer distractions, but he now has a space to call his own with his family’s help. See the photos of other spaces created by employees. https://ergo.lbl.gov/home/covid-19-resources-from-the-ergo-team