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CRITICAL INCIDENT STRESS MANAGEMENT (CISM)
Section 1. The Employer has established a Critical
Incident Stress Management (CISM) Program which is designed to proactively
manage the common disruptive physical, mental, and emotional factors that an
employee may experience after a critical incident (i.e., accidents/incidents,
such as an aviation disaster with loss of life, the death of a co-worker, acts
of terrorism, violence in the work place, exposure to toxic materials,
prolonged rescue or recovery operations, and natural disasters such as
earthquakes and hurricanes). Upon request, an employee involved in or
witnessing a critical incident shall be relieved from operational duties
(safety-related) as soon as feasible.
Section 2. The Agency's CISM Program is an educational process designed
to minimize the impact of a critical incident on employees. This program is
not intended to evaluate employees in terms of gathering factual information
about employee performance or to be a mechanism for psychological assessment.
Section 3. The Union will appoint eleven bargaining unit employees (at
least one per region) to serve as members of the Critical Incident Stress
Debriefing (CISD) team for the purpose of responding to critical incidents and
providing peer support. From within these peer debriefers, the Union, at the
national level, may designate up to three national CISM coordinators to work
with the Employer's national EAP Program Manager, as the National NAATS/FAA
CISM Coordination Team.
Section 4. The Employer will provide appropriate CISD training to the
Union designees on duty time if otherwise in a duty status. Travel and per
diem allowances will be provided in accordance with appropriate FAA directives
and regulations. The Employer agrees to adjust the schedule(s) of participants
to allow them to participate in a duty status. Employees will be compensated
in accordance with applicable FAA directives and regulations.
Section 5. The regional peer debriefer shall be notified whenever a
critical incident occurs involving bargaining unit members within his/her
jurisdiction.
Section 6. Whenever the Employer determines to send out a CISD team,
the designated peer debriefer shall be relieved as soon as operational
requirements permit from his/her normal duties. The Employer will adjust the
designated peer debriefer's schedule to allow for travel and participation in
CISD team activities on duty time. Travel and per diem expenses will be
authorized in accordance with FAA directives and regulations.
Section 7. The Employer will notify the principal Facility
Representative or his/her designee a reasonable time in advance whenever
employees will be required to attend mandatory educational briefings, and will
provide the principal Facility Representative opportunity to attend.
Section 8. When the Employer conducts a mandatory educational briefing
following a critical incident, all affected employees will be notified and
will be required to attend. Upon completion of this briefing, employees will
be notified that an Employer's Employee Assistance Program (EAP) contractor
and a peer debriefer will be available for bargaining unit employees who
request additional Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD). An employee�s
participation in a CISD after the mandatory educational briefing is voluntary.
The use of EAP services will be provided in accordance with the provisions of
Article XX, Employee Assistance Program, of this Agreement and applicable FAA
directives. If requested, bargaining unit employees will only receive peer
support from other bargaining unit employees.
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