Amtrak 2009 Annual Report Download - page 18

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2009 Environmental Health & Safety Report
16
Public Health
V. Public Health
Highlights/Projects
Backflow Prevention Testing Program
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Amtrak reached an agreement on a
program of in-house testing of all backflow prevention devices on Amtrak property.
During 2009, the Public Health group, with support from the Mechanical Department
Standards and Compliance group, developed an action plan to assure compliance with the
agreement between Amtrak and the FDA regarding best practices in the inspection and
testing of backflow prevention devices installed at Amtrak facilities.
Once implemented, the 15 selected Major Mechanical Facilities and High-Speed Rail
Facilities must be in compliance with all elements of the inspection and testing procedures
within one year of respective facility deployment.
Deployment of Phase I of Amtrak’ s Major Facilities Potable Water Point Cross-Connection
Program (CCP) began in early 2010 and is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
Pandemic Flu Program
Amtrak has been actively working on the potential impact of pandemic flu on passengers,
contractors and employees. A Pandemic Flu Task Group was organized in 2005, with
representatives from impacted or key departments. During 2009, the company closely
monitored the seasonal flu outbreak situation and followed Center for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) recommendations.
The company had already developed and activated its Pandemic Flu Plan when the
Pandemic Emergency was announced in June 2009 by the World Health Organization
(WHO) and the CDC.
Steps taken as part of the Pandemic Flu Plan included:
• Promoting healthy habits, like frequent hand washing, one of the primary
prevention techniques.
• Providing the seasonal flu vaccine to employees who wish to protect themselves
from the seasonal flu.
• Providing non-alcohol-based hand sanitizing wipes for use aboard trains (since a
non-alcohol sanitizer is non-flammable and still CDC-acceptable) and alcohol-
based hand sanitizers for other locations.
• Monitoring workforce absenteeism patterns and managing headcount to ensure or
adjust continuity of operations at the division and department level.