Policy Memorandum 2024-03 (Attachment 3).pdf

U.S. Department of Justice

Justice Management Division

Washington, D.C. 20530

POLICY MEMORANDUM #2024-03

DATE: July 22, 2024

TO: HEADS OF DEPARTMENT COMPONENTS

FROM: Jolene Ann Lauria Assistant Attorney General for Administration

SUBJECT: SAFETY STATION PROGRAM

PURPOSE: This memorandum establishes the Department of Justice (DOJ or Department) requirements for safety station programs.

SCOPE: All DOJ components

AUTHORITY: 5 U.S.C. § 7901

40 U.S.C. § 301 and 121(c) 42 U.S.C. § 238p and § 300u-3 29 C.F.R. § 1960.1 and 1910.151 41 C.F.R. § 102-74.230 to 102-74.260 GSA Bulletin FMR C-2024-01

POLICY: DOJ is committed to proactively fostering a safe work environment and encouraging employees to help reduce fatalities occurring from sudden cardiac arrests, opioid overdoses, and life-threatening bleeding situations. As such, law enforcement components and components located in public facing federal facilities are required to establish safety station programs in their facilities, and all other components are required to conduct a risk assessment to determine whether a safety station program is necessary.

A safety station program incorporates three modular bystander-empowered components:

automated external defibrillator (AED), opioid reversal agents (such as naloxone), and hemorrhagic control (such as Stop the Bleed® kits). The Department’s policy is established based on guidance in the General Services Administration and Department of Health and Human Services jointly issued Bulletin, FMR C–2024–01, Safety Station Program Guidelines in Federal Facilities (Dec. 21, 2023).

. 1 Automated External Defibrillator

According to the American Red Cross, sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is a leading cause of death in the United States. AEDs provide the critical and necessary treatment for SCA. For every minute that defibrillation is delayed, the odds of survival are decreased by 10%.1 Using an AED and performing CPR within minutes of an SCA can significantly improve survival rates. CPR is essential because it supports the circulation and ventilation of the victim until an electric shock delivered by an AED can restore the irregular heart rhythm to normal.

. 2 Opioid Reversal Agent

Opioid overdoses and deaths have been on the rise in the U.S. since the 1990s.

The dangers of prescription misuse, opioid use disorder, and overdose have been a growing problem throughout the U.S. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 80,411 opioid involved overdose deaths in the U.S. in 2021.

An opioid overdose is life threatening and requires immediate emergency attention. Treatment with an opioid reversal agent such as naloxone can help prevent an overdose.

. 3 Hemorrhagic Control

The threat from intentional mass-casualty events remains elevated in the U.S.

The American College of Surgeons created a Joint Committee to Create a National Policy to Enhance Survivability from Intentional Mass Casualty and Active Shooter Events. The Joint Committee published The Hartford Consensus2 which identified early control of hemorrhage as critical to improving survival from such incidents and established best-practice recommendations to educate and equip the public with techniques of appropriate control of life-threatening bleeding. In October 2015, a national campaign called Stop the Bleed® was launched to provide bystanders of emergency situations with the tools and knowledge to stop life-threatening bleeding.

A component’s safety station program should include an emergency response plan and protocols, including a notification system to activate responders. The program should be

1 https://www.redcross.org/take-a-class/aed/using-an-aed/what-is-aed

2 The Hartford Consensus. Improving Survival Strategies to Enhance Survival in Active Shooter and Intentional Sep Mass . Casualty 2015 Events ) : , A Compendium. American College of Surgeons ( https://www.stopthebleed.org/media/xt0hjwmw/hartford-consensus-compendium.pdf https://www.redcross.org/take-a-class/aed/using-an-aed/what-is-aed https://www.stopthebleed.org/media/xt0hjwmw/hartford-consensus-compendium.pdf periodically reviewed and revised whenever necessary to comply with established guidelines from nationally recognized cardiac care or life safety organizations.

A. Law Enforcement Components Must Establish a Safety Station Program

For the purposes of this Policy Memorandum, law enforcement components refer to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Federal Bureau of Prisons, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the United States Marshals Service.

Law enforcement officers face many hazards in the line of duty and often serve as first responders to emergencies. As such, law enforcement components must establish safety station programs, which include training on AED/CPR, opioid reversal agents, and hemorrhagic control. As part of their safety station program, law enforcement components must also establish policies for carrying and dispensing opioid reversal agents during field operations.

Components must complete written policies and procedures for their safety station programs that meet or exceed the requirements in the DOJ Instruction – Safety Station Program Guide by October 21, 2024. These policies and procedures must be implemented no later than December 31, 2024.

B. Components Located in Public Facing Federal Facilities Must Establish a Safety Station Program

A public facing federal facility is one in which the primary mission of the component at that location is to service and interact with the public conducting personal business (e.g., Immigration Courts, United States Attorneys Offices).

Because their mission involves interaction with the public, DOJ components located in public facing federal facilities have a role to play to help save lives in their communities.

A such, they must establish safety station programs to include training on AED/CPR, opioid reversal agents, and hemorrhagic control. Components must complete written policies and procedures for their safety station programs that meet or exceed the requirements in the DOJ Instruction – Safety Station Program Guide by October 21, 2024. These policies and procedures must be implemented no later than December 31, 2024.

C. All Other Components Must Conduct a Risk Assessment to Determine the Need for a Safety Station Program

Components who are not law enforcement or located in public facing facilities must conduct a written risk assessment to determine the need for a safety station program.

Components must use the attached form to conduct their assessment Components should consider the likelihood that a critical incident would occur at their facilities that would require the use of an AED, opioid reversal agent, or hemorrhagic control. The assessment includes the following considerations:

• The likelihood of a violent incident, natural disaster, or drug overdose at the facility.

• Whether there are hazards at the facility that present the risk of a medical emergency, such as dangerous machinery, hazardous materials, or exercise equipment.

• Whether the facility typically hosts members of the public on frequent occasions (e.g., United States Attorneys Offices, museums or exhibition spaces) or in large gatherings (e.g., press conferences, public meetings or receptions).

• Whether there is a health clinic or first responders on site at the facility.

Where a component determines that there is a high risk of a critical incident at any of its facilities, it should establish a written safety station program that meets or exceeds the requirements in the DOJ Instruction – Safety Station Program Guide.

Components must conduct a risk assessment of their facilities by August 21, 2024. If any of their facilities are determined to be high risk, then the component must complete a written safety station policy or procedure within 90 days after the completion of the assessment. The safety station program must be implemented no later than December 31, 2024.

All facilities that are determined to be low risk must be reassessed on an annual basis.

Components who only have offices in the Robert F. Kennedy Main Justice building or in Two Constitution Square do not need to conduct a risk assessment, as the Justice Management Division’s Facilities and Administrative Services Staff (FASS) will conduct risk assessments for those facilities.

D. Exceptions for Certain Facilities

A full safety station is not required, but is encouraged, in non-publicly accessible facilities with 10 or fewer DOJ employees.