Ltr_Mask Wearing Update_Ser 440-161_5.25.2021.pdf

DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY

PUGET SOUND NAVAL SHIPYARD

AND INTERMEDIATE MAINTENANCE FACILITY

1400 FARRAGUT AVENUE STOP 2090

BREMERTON WASHINGTON 98314-2090 IN REPLY REFER TO:

Ser 440/161 May 25, 2021

Contractor Distribution

Dear Sir or Madam:

SUBJECT: MASK WEARING UPDATE MAY 2021

Prior mask guidance has been updated for work occurring at both Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS&IMF)/Northwest Regional Maintenance Center (NWRMC) and its detachments, and Trident Refit Facility Bangor (TRFB). As stated in prior guidance, the contracting office of PSNS&IMF/NWRMC awards contracts for both PSNS&IMF and TRFB. As described further below, there are slight differences in mask rules at the two separate Commands. Work being performed at other naval bases will follow mask guidance under their individual base requirements.

At PSNS&IMF and its detachments, whether an individual is immunized or not, that person may remove their mask when outdoors as long as they maintain six feet of social distance. By definition, a fully immunized person is someone who is at least two weeks past their final vaccination dose. Fully immunized individuals may remove masks indoors when alone in a personal workspace. This applies across the PSNS & IMF Controlled Industrial Area (CIA), at all detachments enclaved, and includes accessing Building 2200 and pier areas in Everett, WA.

The below mask guidance shall be followed at PSNS&IMF and its detachments:

• If working within six feet of another person indoors or outdoors, a mask is required regardless of immunization status.

• If outdoors, outside of six feet, anyone may remove their mask regardless of immunization status.

• If indoors, outside of six feet, the higher level guidance states that any immunized person may remove their mask when alone in a personal workspace (this includes cubicles, for instance). The guidance states that any unimmunized person should still wear a mask.

• For any meeting in a conference room or workspace, masks are required. Classrooms and buses will also still require masks.

The following prior guidance remains unchanged, which allows you to remove your face covering when you are:

• Eating and/or drinking AND at least six feet from others. If you are eating and/or drinking in a shared workspace or open area, ensure barriers are in place and rotate/adjust eating times to minimize the number of people who are in the area when masks are lowered. If you are in a work meeting, take a drink or bite and then immediately re-don your face covering.

• In Designated Tobacco Use Areas AND at least six feet from others.

May 25, 2021

• Working alone in a forklift or Aerial Work Platform AND you clean the equipment prior to turning it over to another driver and at the end of every shift.

• Performing work that requires you to wear a:

o Supplied air respirator including loose fitting supplied air respirator such as a

Primair hood, NPO welder’s hood, or NPO bubble hood.

o Negative pressure air purifying respirator with P100 cartridge or combination type cartridge that contains a P100 cartridge.

o Welder’s hood or helmet.

If someone is not wearing a mask (outside of six feet, indoors or outdoors), it cannot be asked if that person is immunized or not. We will rely on the honor system and each other’s integrity with regards to complying with the guidance for unimmunized personnel to wear a mask indoors.

If someone tests positive for COVID, normal contact tracing and ROM rules apply. There is absolutely nothing wrong with someone wearing a mask if they desire. If you feel safer wearing a mask, please do.

There is no expectation of individuals to police mask wearing based on immunization status.

These guidelines above are subject to change depending on risk, mission, infection rates, or overarching guidance changes. For example, if the number of positive cases increases significantly, we may require mask wearing at all times again. Effective May 24, screening stations at PSNS & IMF will no longer be manned with the exception of periodic compliance checks. You are still expected to self-assess each morning, and you are still required to take your temperature when you enter the gate.

As explained in prior guidance, the Commanding Officer has the authority to set the requirements for access to the vessel based on their risk posture, immunization rates, etc. Those policies will be dictated by the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the ship or submarine and the project team and will be provided to you by the Contracting Officer. You may see different mask adherence on base or by Sailors on the ships. Please respect the postures of the various commands.

For the separate command of TRFB, all contractor’s performing work on TRFB property, including outdoor shared spaces, will wear masks in accordance with the most current CDC guidelines. All immunized individuals, who are two weeks beyond final dose, are exempt from the requirements listed below. However, any individual may wear a mask for any reason at any time. All individuals will remain prepared to don a mask in case they become within 6 feet of another person. Individuals should not ask about a person’s vaccination status with regard to the use of a face mask except in an extenuating circumstance, e.g. close contact with a positive COVID-19 case.

Non-immunized individuals must wear masks continuously while on TRFB property except:

• When an individual is alone in an office with floor-to-ceiling walls with a closed door.

May 25, 2021

• For brief periods of time when eating, drinking and smoking while maintaining distancing in accordance with CDC guidelines.

• When the mask is required to be lowered briefly for identification or security purposes.

• When clear or unrestricted visualization of verbal communication is required for safe and effective operations.

o Towed array on-load or off-load.

o BRR-6 Buoy fly.

o BST-1 on-load or off-load.

o Mooring Evolutions.

o Crane and rigging evolutions.

o Ships external movements when in drydock.

• Personnel conducting training in which mask wearing is not feasible, such as swim qualification, amphibious, or aquatic training events; or where mask wearing impedes safety or other high-risk training events where masks create a hazard.

• Personnel operating machinery, tools, and or other items during the use of which a mask would present a safety hazard (i.e. promote communication and prevent fogging of prescription lenses).

o Drivers requiring prescription lenses o Vessel docking operations personnel while outside and >6 ft separation

If you have additional questions or concerns, please work with your contracting officer or contracting officer representative.

D. C. CROW

Chief of the Contracting Office