IID adds temperature screenings to its workplace safety protocols
IMPERIAL — The Imperial Irrigation District has followed the county’s lead in requiring all employees coming to work to have their temperatures taken before being allowed on the premises.
As for Monday, IID employees reporting for work on-site must undergo a temperature screening as they enter the premises. Anyone whose temperature is above 100.4 degrees will be given further instructions.
The guards from Securitas are doing the temperature readings for the most part, but in some cases, supervisors are taking the readings at remote, small worksites, while sequestered employees are screening themselves to avoid having contact with anyone.
The additional cost to IID for doing the temperature screenings is about $130,000 which will run through the end of June.
Even though there are about 300 IID employees who are working from home, more than 1,000 of its 1,340 employees are still going to work.
The IID’s headquarters in Imperial was the first location to begin screenings, and other district work locations will follow.
“Our goal is to screen all employees, vendors and consultants entering district facilities,” said
IID Public Information Officer Robert Schettler.
IID has been monitoring COVID-19 closely and has taken numerous actions to reduce risks to its employees and the public, based on recommendations from the California Department of Public Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local public health officials, while continuing to provide services, Schettler said.
Employees who can work from home are doing so, and employees onsite are strictly following safe workplace practices, including guidelines established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local public health departments.
Schettler said that among the first things IID did and has continued to do since the pandemic began was connect with its customers and employees.
“We have increased customer communications via specific letters and developments sent to them electronically, through their bills, use of social media, website information and through paid and earned media,” Schettler said.
He said the district also stepped up communications efforts with employees to provide regular updates and a dedicated internal website where employees could go for information and submit questions.
He said IID provided employees with a washable, double polyester fabric cloth face covering. It has also provided fire-retardant protective face coverings to some of its electrical workers.
In total, IID has provided its employees 1,427 face coverings, and expects to be able to provide each of its employees a second cloth face covering sometime next week.
The district has also provided 9,650 pairs of gloves, 2,256 bottles of hand sanitizer, 79 hand sanitizer dispensers, 683 spray bottles containing a hospital grade disinfectant and 23 disinfectant refill stations.
IID installed 274 UV germicidal lights on its HVAC systems servicing the pay stations, water divisions, customer call center, and regular office buildings as an additional protective measure.
“IID is a fundamentally dependable, reliable and steadfast organization,” said IID General Manager Henry Martinez. “As essential workers, IID employees have responded remarkably in serving our customers during this current pandemic, continuing the work of the district while demonstrating a shared responsibility to keep our workplace and our customers safe.”
IID has also announced it will not disconnect service to any customer for non-payment during the pandemic. It asks any customer struggling to pay their electric bill to contact IID’s customer service center at (800) 303-7756.
. “From a safety perspective, the district is working hard every day to ensure that the well-being of our employees is our most important priority,” Schettler said. “Employees who can work from home are doing so.
“We continue to encourage employees to be vigilant with their personal hygiene, workplace hygiene and physical distancing,” he said.