Current Security & Health Protocols for Onsite Volunteers 

Updated January 2026

General info

OPB's approach to security and health is marked by strong protocols and adaptation to the changing environment. We fully expect that our security and health protocols will evolve more, and we'll be sure to keep volunteers informed. Before we sign up volunteers for in-person projects, we evaluate current conditions and review expert advice to determine what security and health protocols are necessary for the upcoming project.  

• Security and health protocols may vary depending on the location and nature of the assignment. The security and health protocols listed below are for in-person group projects, like membership drives, data entry projects, and thank a member events.  

• Different security and health protocols may apply for volunteers serving in other in-person positions, including ongoing office support roles and offsite events. 

Security protocols
Current security protocols for data entry projects, membership drives, thank a member projects, and transcript-a-thons.  

• Background checks

  • • Volunteers serving in in-person roles are subject to background checks. 

    • Disqualifying findings include any violent offense or any offense involving identity or financial crimes. 

• Photo identification and photo

• Volunteers serving in in-person roles are asked to present photo identification when arriving for their first shift. 

  1. • • • OPB security personnel will check photo IDs prior to granting entry to the building.  

• Volunteer Engagement staff will take your photo when you arrive for your first shift, which will be stored in the volunteer database. 

Health protocols

• Masks 

  • Currently, masks are optional for group projects like data entry and membership drives.

  • Please note: While masks are optional at this time, it is possible that masks may be required for future projects depending on the status of COVID-19 and the cold/flu season.

  • We will have masks available if you'd like one.

• Illness 

  • Volunteers who test positive for COVID within 14 days of their shift are asked to NOT come in for their shift.

  • Volunteers who are ill with a cold/flu, or otherwise feel unwell, are asked NOT to come in for their shift, even if they test negative for COVID. 

  • Volunteers who have any cold/flu symptoms are asked NOT to come in for their shift, even if they test negative for COVID and even if they do not feel unwell. 

  • Volunteers who have had a known exposure to COVID-19 during the week prior to their shift are asked to NOT come in for their shift.

    1. • Volunteers who arrive to their shift sick and/or with cold/flu symptoms will be asked to leave. 

  • If a volunteer becomes ill within 72 hours (about 3 days) of having attended their shift, they are asked to contact Jenn Forristal.

• Group size 

  • We will limit the number of volunteers to six people per shift. 

• Questionnaire 

  • We will send out a health and safety questionnaire the day before your scheduled shift.