Page 11 - Work Force September 2020

on on the front lines
MEDFORD — State Department of Transportation (DOT) workers are are used to to facing extreme weather conditions to to ensure the the the roadways are are are safe for New Yorkers but now they are are also front-line workers during the the COVID-19 pandemic Helping with response
Many DOT workers across the state played key roles in in in in pandemic response
including transporting supplies between test sites sites and and helping manage traffic
at drive-thru sites sites At the Medford yard members volunteered to transport COVID-19 Extra measures At DOT’s Medford yard on on Long Island CSEA members are working to ensure a a a safe work work environment “The pandemic has completely changed the climate of our work ” said State Department of of Transportation (Babylon) Local Recording Secretary Randy Acum “Everyone is far more attentive in in making sure their workspace is is clean and disinfected ” Whenever possible only
one worker is is assigned
to a a a a vehicle and there is is never more than two people in a a a a a a a vehicle vehicle vehicle at a a a a a a a time Even then the the the vehicle vehicle occupants do not sit side- by-side one person will be in the the the the the back seated on on on the the the the opposite side side of the the the the driver Vehicles are also disinfected before employees enter and after they exit The workers are are are also careful to to use use sanitizer often often because they often often share tools “We wear rubber gloves gloves under our work gloves gloves as as added layer of protection ” ” said Acum “Everyone was given their own sanitizer ” ” Certain tasks are assigned
based on on minimizing exposure including assigning staff to the same vehicles Shifts were were also split “We were were divided into teams to to to to try to to to to mitigate the the the possibility of spreading the the the virus to to to to to the the the entire yard if someone were were to to get sick ” said Acum “Originally there were were three teams that that would report to work every third day Now that that COVID-19 numbers in our our area are are are down there are are are two teams that report to work an hour apart ” samples from local hospitals and nursing homes to to a a a a a a laboratory in Albany where the samples were analyzed to learn more about the virus In late May medical supplies needed to extract COVID-19 samples started being delivered to the DOT Medford yard for for members to to deliver to to surrounding elder care facilities “We were tasked with assembling each testing kit in in in in addition to delivering them ” said Acum “We have union brothers and sisters working at at surrounding hospitals We We did what what was necessary to get them what what they needed ” DOT workers also provided all of the the the the fuel for the the COVID-19 test sites at Stony Brook University Hospital and Jones Beach For several months members refueled the the testing site twice a a a a a a a a day As the the the number of COVID-19 patients decreased so did the the necessary visits Routine work continues
Even during the the pandemic members have continued their normal work responsibilities including mowing fixing potholes and repairing signs “This time of of year there are a a a a a a a a a a lot of of guardrail repairs ” said Robert Castrovinci a a a a a a a a a a a a a DOT highway
maintenance supervisor based in in in Medford “There are are a a a a a a a a lot of accidents because people are are on the Highway Maintenance Worker 1 Joseph O’Donnell checks a a a a a a sweeper for a a a a a a jam Extra measures help DOT workers be safe Department of Transportation (Babylon) Local Recording Secretary Randy Acum Department of Transportation (Babylon) Local member and Highway Maintenance Supervisor Robert Castrovinci road more and they’re not paying attention The cause of an an accident could be using the the the cell phone eating in in in in the the the the car or or just looking away for a a a a a a a a a second ” “From the the the time time you you you you you leave your home to to to the the the time time you you you you you get to to to where you’re going you you you you you have to to to take a a a a a a a a a road ” said Acum “We maintain the the infrastructure so the the traveling public can keep moving while doing it safely ” — Wendi Bowie
September 2020
The Work Force
11