A woman wears a mask while riding a bicycle near the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. on June 8, 2023, as smoke moves in from recent wildfires in Canada. Image: Bryan Olin Dozier/NurPhoto/Shutterstock
In guidance arising from the smoke hazards in the East due to wildfires in Canada but that applies to all hazardous air situations, OPM has told agencies to “ to be proactive in protecting the health and wellbeing of our federal workforce.”
“In particular, we strongly encourage agencies to take all available steps to help protect those employees with high-risk medical conditions when dangerous air quality conditions are present,” says a memo on chcoc.gov.
“Agencies are encouraged to permit employees, particularly those with high-risk medical conditions, to telework from home on a day when air quality conditions are dangerous. Additionally, if permitted by agency policy, an employee working a flexible work schedule may choose to adjust arrival and departure times to avoid commuting during hours when the air quality may be worse. Employees may also request the use of annual leave, earned compensatory time off, or credit hours on a day when the air quality is threatening to an employee’s health and welfare,” it says.
The memo notes that OPM-issued operating status announcements for purposes such as weather and safety leave, unscheduled telework, and unscheduled leave for employees apply only in the national capital area. Operating status elsewhere is determined by individual agencies, coordinated by Federal Executive Boards in areas where those boards are in place.
It also includes references to information resources from the EPA and CDC regarding air quality and health considerations.
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