During a large scale disaster, public employees may be reassigned as disaster service workers (DSW) to assist your agency in carrying out its emergency response duties. Employees should be assigned duties within their scope of training, skill and ability.
The term “public employees” is defined by California Government Code Chapter 8. Oath or Affirmation of Allegiance for Disaster Service Workers and Public Employees (§3100-§3109) to include all persons employed by the state or any county, city, city and county, state agency or public district.
All disaster service workers shall, before they enter upon the duties of their employment, take and subscribe to the oath or affirmation set forth in Section 3 of Article XX of the Constitution of California. It is important to keep good records of this action to ensure compensation and reimbursement for expenses.
The EIA’s Loss Prevention Toolbox includes Public Entity Disaster Service Worker Best Practices, designed to assist your agency and employees to be prepared should the need arise. Please contact the Loss Prevention Department with any additional questions or concerns.