2020-031 PPE Status and Mitigation StrategiesDate: April 10, 2020 Report No. 2020-031
INFORMAL STAFF REPORT
TO MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
SUBJECT:
Personal protective equipment (PPE) status and steps taken to reduce the spread of COVID-19
among City field workers
BACKGROUND:
There have been recent inquiries from members of the public and City Council regarding various
departments’ strategies and precautions for preventing the spread of COVID-19 among city
employees who may work in the field and in the community at large. The safety of City staff
remains the highest priority. A coordinated effort by those departments who have field workers
performing essential functions includes the implementation of new strategies and procedures to
help maintain safety levels among varying crews. The main focus of the PPE Working Group (led
by Battalion Chief Skipper, under the direction of the Fire Department’s medical director) is to
determine each City department’s PPE needs and develop recommendations and minimum
requirements based on CDC guidelines.
DISCUSSION:
The PPE Working Group will educate staff on the CDC guidelines for social distancing, the
appropriate protective gear to wear, how to properly use and dispose of gear, and when it should
be applied in a department’s working environment. Currently, there is a limited supply of PPE
within the City’s centralized warehouse, and the PPE has been prioritized to first responders. As
the additional supply arrives, the PPE will be issued to the departments for wider use. In the
meantime, employees in the field are being educated and required to maintain social distancing
and enhance sanitizing of vehicle cabs and work spaces as recommended by health officials.
The following is a summary of general guidelines provided by the Fire Department on the
recommended type of PPE to be used by our employees:
Knowing when and what Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) must be used is key to the
continued protection of all our City employees. The key to staying healthy is practicing social
distancing, greater than six (6) feet at all times and using the right level of PPE at the right time.
An N95 respirator is not required for every employee to go about their daily responsibilities. Due
to PPE shortages, the overall intent is to prevent contamination of PPE, thereby preserving the life
of each piece.
The main components of a full PPE ensemble are goggles, gloves, respirators, and gowns; there
are various types of each and they are detailed below.
Date: April 10, 2020 Report No. 2020-031
Goggles
Make sure they seal the eyes completely. Vents or glasses are not considered full protection.
However, if nothing else is available, safety glasses are better than nothing.
Who should wear them?
o For a non-healthcare provider, safety glasses and social distancing are
sufficient for daily wear.
Gloves
There are different types of gloves. Some are approved for handling food and some are medical
grade.
Who should wear them?
o If an employee is handling money, food, or coming into close contact with
people (<6ft.), they should wear medical grade gloves. Boxes of gloves
usually read “for medical use” on them. Otherwise, any kind of glove is a
better option than no glove.
Gowns
Mainly used for healthcare providers who are in close proximity to known, or suspected, infectious
patients.
Who should wear them?
o With the current shortage, there should be no reason for someone outside of
the healthcare field to be wearing a disposable gown.
Respirators
The majority of respirators being used right now are N95, or an international equivalent. N95s, in
relation to the current pandemic, are mainly used by healthcare providers who are within six (6)
feet of a person known or suspected to have COVID-19.
Who should wear them?
o Healthcare providers, police, and other employees who cannot practice social
distance around known, or suspected, COVID patients should wear N95
respirators.
o Note: You may see KN95s. These are Chinese equivalents to N95 masks.
There are a wide variety of models and manufacturers. If you see either N95,
or KN95, then the mask provides the same level of protection.
Surgical masks
Surgical masks are not respirators and are used for daily wear by the general population. The main
difference is that N95s protect the wearer. Surgical masks provide minimal protection, but they do
help stop the spread of the virus to others.
Who should wear them?
o Currently, the CDC is recommending everyone wear a cloth or surgical mask
and practice social distancing. This is the best way to fight the current
pandemic. Employees who are not directly treating patients who are known or
suspected COVID-19 positive should wear cloth or surgical masks.
Date: April 10, 2020 Report No. 2020-031
The following is a summary of various departments’ strategies for mitigation and social
distancing as it relates to the City’s COVID-19 response.
Denton Municipal Electric (DME)
Beginning March 18, only essential personnel were allowed to remain onsite in response to the
COVID‐19 pandemic. All non‐essential personnel are working remotely and remain available.
Operational field crews were limited to a single crew to concentrate on maintenance only, but
additional crews may be dispatched directly from home as the need arises. Similar to public safety
protocols, all DME buildings have been locked down with a single point of entry and accessible
only to essential personnel assigned to that building. Additionally, essential personnel coming on
shift must respond to three (3) general health questions and are also required to have a temperature
screening or attest that they have completed a temperature check at home. DME management are
still trying to secure enough thermometers to place at each building. To that end, DME has assigned
a safety specialist to serve on a PPE working group assembled by public safety. That staff member
is tasked with ensuring DME has any recommended PPE and to also advise senior management
on any changes to safety protocols and measures.
In response to increases in service requests and the possibility of a full return to work for essential
operational field crews in the near future, DME has recently implemented additional measures to
be observed by staff. These measures include staggered shifts, limiting number of staff in a single
vehicle, increased cleaning in common areas and restrooms, and ensuring adequate PPE is made
available. The required use of masks has not been implemented at this time, but DME will respond
accordingly as the public safety PPE working group makes those recommendations. It should be
noted that due to the nature of some operations by DME crews, social distancing may be a
challenge, but they are committed to ensuring their staff are protected and provided necessary PPE
to complete their tasks.
Water Utilities
The Water Utilities Departments have implemented social distancing guidelines for staff including
having only one (1) person per vehicle, sanitizing vehicles, equipment and shared workspaces at
the beginning and end of each shift or when the operator changes. Workers are being called in
from “at home” shifts on an as-needed basis. As the departments are unable to procure
thermometers to check employee temperatures at work, those who own personal thermometers are
asked to check and report their temperature to their supervisor upon arriving to work. These
departments do not have frequent interaction with the public.
The public compost (Dyno Dirt) sales office has more interaction with the public, it has moved to
a credit card only payment system where staff have no physical contact with the public, as it is
now separated by a closed window. There is one employee handling transactions at the sales office;
the employee has been provided with gloves, masks, hand sanitizer, and disinfectant as an added
precaution. All employees across the departments have access to a limited supply of gloves, hand
sanitizer (when available) and disinfectant solution.
Date: April 10, 2020 Report No. 2020-031
Parks Maintenance
Parks Maintenance employees are being provided gloves, masks, and safety glasses. They are also
requested to wear long pants and long sleeve shirts as they report for duty. Additionally, staff are
being asked to change clothes before and after each work shift. Staff are requested to take and
report their temperature before arriving for each shift. Each employee has been assigned to their
own vehicle so that there is only one employee per vehicle and social distancing may be
maintained. Employees are also reporting to work in alternate locations to reduce the number of
employees gathered at any given time. Currently, they report to the Service Center, Denia Park,
North Lakes Park, Storage Building, Green House, and Civic Center Pool.
Streets and Drainage
While major construction projects have been put on hold, Streets staff are completing the work to
a passable and safe state before a project is completely suspended. Both Streets and Drainage staff
are currently divided into two groups who alternate weeks working on site. They practice and keep
social distancing guidelines while working and commuting to and from job sites by having only
one employee per vehicle. Staff has been supplied with cleaning wipes and disinfectant spray for
each vehicle and are directed to wipe and spray down vehicles at the beginning and end of each
day. Daily temperature screening of employees is under implementation as of this week.
Community Development and Community Improvement Services
Community Improvement Services staff have been divided into two working groups who report to
the office every other day and/or as needed in order to reduce the number of staff coming in and
out every day. It is understood that staff at home may be deployed from home for field inspection
as needed. A change in procedure was also implemented in their routine to comply with social
distancing guidelines as well. CIS Officers no longer leave notices on doors or knock on doors to
speak with residents directly. Enforcement communication has been routed to email or phone
communication only.
All but two (2) Community Development staff are working remotely. One staff member does field
work and works in the office. The other staff member is on an A/B schedule in the office and other
times, as needed. The Residential Construction Specialist (RCS) completes visual inspections of
projects when workers are not present or from a distance. The RCS does not enter any occupied
home for projects, repair needs assessment, or inspections. Programmatic changes include
Partner agencies/Clients return documents electronically, and only emergency repairs are being
addressed at this time. Health self-assessments and social distancing strategies are being utilized
in attempts to maintain the safety of the teams.
Solid Waste and Recycling
Solid Waste and Recycling is using its equipment to distance and protect its employees in response
to COVID-19 protocols. Drivers and operators are limited to one person per vehicle. Employees
who are assigned routes drive the same vehicle daily while drivers who work shifts and trade out
equipment disinfect the cab at the start and end of their shifts. Staff maintain at least a six-foot
distance between themselves and the general public.
Date: April 10, 2020 Report No. 2020-031
Morning huddles among crews have shifted to an electronic format. Staff are now dismissed upon
completion of their shifts so that they do not gather en masse awaiting scan-out time.
The Landfill Scale House has switched to an account or credit/debit only-based payment to further
separate customers from staff and to maintain social distancing standards.
Building Safety
Building Safety staff’s PPE currently consists of gloves and hand sanitizer. They are utilizing self-
acquired or self-made face masks at this point. Staff found other types for purchase on April 9
along with safety goggles. As with most departments, Building and Health Inspectors are now
working A/B shifts in weekly cycles. The on-duty shift employees are working from their work
vehicles.
One new programmatic adjustment recently implemented is virtual inspections. They are currently
only available on limited types of inspections at this time.
Staff have received PPE training from Captain Skipper in the Fire Department and subsequently
conducted training for all Building Safety staff via Teams Meeting.
CONCLUSION:
Staff will continue to monitor reports and data on the COVID-19 response at federal, state, and
local levels. Information regarding the City’s response changes rapidly, and as changes are made
to policy and procedure, they will be relayed to staff.
STAFF CONTACT:
Rachel Balthrop Mendoza
Assistant to the City Manager
Rachel.Mendoza@cityofdenton.com
(940) 349-8420