Despite best efforts to “triage” field dispatches, frontline techs are still getting a lot of non essential work. Techs are being bulked or dispatched on SP to bonded pair upgrades, new bonded pair HSIA installs when customer has existing internet service, redispatched on jepped jobs for COVID-19 etc.. it’s still BAU. The alternate dispatch guidelines are still extremely risky. Even if the customer answers yes to four COVID-19 questions the company only wants techs to slightly modify rules that still puts them at risk. Jep or return is difficult.
The potential result is a temporary (infected) or possibly permanent (death) lay-off of techs, their famIly or community members. Safety models show more encounters & risk taking significantly increases odds of a bad result. There isn’t enough PPE, no disinfectant wipes, little sanitizer, 1 mask for most and few or no gloves. The Company needs to mitigate all of these very high risk dispatches until the unknown becomes manageable in the months ahead. They also need to secure proper PPE for techs. Lead don’t follow!
Despite what the public is being told, common sense says masks are a barrier even if they aren’t fail-safe. The medical professionals will advise everyone to wear one in the near future to stop the spread. It’s just right now there aren’t enough mask. Nobody knew the world would need billions of mask this quickly and no business or country would stockpile such a large quantity to meet the current demand. Hindsight is 20/20.
AT&T should follow their own safety creed:
No job is so important or service so urgent that we can’t take the time to perform our work in a safe or environmentally manner!