The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Safety Agency designated several kinds of utility workers as essential in March, but achieving a status similar to that of healthcare workers would allow them more access to protective and sanitizing equipment.
The groups are working with the Electricity Subsector Coordinating Council to address supply chain issues for PPE, testing and cleaning materials.
As storms and other natural disasters threaten reliability and cause breaks in the system, the groups have all been using mutual assistance programs, deploying utility workers to where they are needed most to restore power. However, those workers need access to testing and protective equipment, being exposed to more risk by traveling, according to the Utility Workers Union of America (UWUA).
