[Ord. No. 10516, 9-20-2018; Ord. No. 10776, 10-6-2022; Ord. No. 10803, 4-20-2023]
a. 
It is the policy of the City of Kirkwood to vigorously support an all-encompassing safety and property protection program. The City of Kirkwood maintains that its residents and employees are its most important asset. Therefore, their safety is our greatest concern and responsibility. In all assignments, the health and safety of all shall have the utmost consideration. Department Heads and supervisory personnel at all levels of the municipal work force are directed to make safety a matter of continuing concern, equal in importance with all other operational considerations. Effective loss prevention is an integral part of management procedures designed to fully utilize municipal capital and personnel.
b. 
The Safety Procedures Manual is a supplement and extension of the City Safety Policy. It is a working document that provides the means of implementing the goal of a safe workplace and is to be used in conjunction with applicable codes and regulations.
c. 
Every employee is charged with the responsibility of supporting and cooperating with the City's Safety Manager and safety and property protection procedures. All employees are expected, as a condition of employment, to adopt the concept that the safe way to perform a task is the most efficient and the only acceptable way to perform it. Safety adherence and performance will be considered as an important measure of supervisory and employee performance evaluation.
[Ord. No. 10516, 9-20-2018; Ord. No. 10621, 9-5-2019; Ord. No. 10776, 10-6-2022; Ord. No. 10803, 4-20-2023]
Chief Administrative Officer
The Chief Administrative Officer has the overall responsibility for formulating, implementing, and administrating the safety and property protection program of the City of Kirkwood.
Assistant Chief Administrative Officer
The Assistant Chief Administrative Officer will provide direction and guidance to the Safety Manager and advise the Chief Administrative Officer on the processes put in place and any barriers to success.
Safety Manager
The Safety Manager's responsibility is that of providing and following a well balanced safety and property protection program to guide the City in its safety and property protection efforts. He or she will serve as the Assistant Chief Administrative Officer's consultant, analyst, organizer and coordinator, and report on the adequacy of the total safety and property protection program.
City of Kirkwood Safety Committee
The City of Kirkwood Safety Committee will function as an administrative body to develop recommendations on matters of policy and procedure affecting the administration of the City's safety and property protection program. Membership shall consist of an employee from each department or division. These employees serve as a direct link between the Safety Committee and their own departments. Their responsibilities are provided in detail in the Safety Manual.
Department Heads
Each Department Head has the authority and responsibility for maintaining a safe and healthful working condition within his or her jurisdiction. Each department is responsible for: providing the type of work environment, work procedures, and service to the public that will promote, to the highest extent possible, the safety of all employees and the general public; communicating information about safety in a manner readily understandable by all workers; and encouraging workers to inform managers of workplace hazards without fear of reprisal.
Supervisory Personnel
Each Supervisor has the responsibility for the safe actions of his or her employees and the safe performance of machines and equipment within his or her operating area. The full potential of a safety and property protection program can only be realized when Supervisors accept and carry out their responsibilities on a day-to-day basis in all phases of the program.
Supervisors are responsible for making certain that there is an immediate investigation into any Preventable Accident, defined herein. A "Preventable Accident" is defined as any injury or accident involving a City vehicle or equipment, whether being used for City or personal use, that results in property damage and/or personal injury, and in which the employee in question failed to exercise every reasonable precaution to prevent the injury or accident. Each Supervisor must report all information regarding a Preventable Accident to the Safety Manager, which will then be reviewed for appropriate action pursuant to the Safety Discipline Policy below. Each Supervisor shall also be responsible to issue discipline to an employee who violates any safety policy, rule or regulation, other than discipline to be issued in the event of a Preventable Accident. Ensuring a safe workplace within the City is the responsibility of all Department Heads, Supervisors and employees, all of whom shall be held accountable to fulfill their obligations to provide the safest working environment feasible within the City.
Employees and Safety Discipline Policy
Every employee is required, as a condition of employment, to develop and exercise safe work practices in the course of his or her work to prevent injuries to themselves, fellow workers, and damage to property and to report any incidents or injuries to their Supervisor immediately.
All employees that operate City vehicles or equipment shall be subject to appropriate disciplinary action in the event of a Preventable Accident. A Preventable Accident determination will be made by the Safety Committee, taking into consideration the information contained in any Missouri Uniform Crash Report (Section 7d) conducted by the accident and investigation and any reviewing police officers. In the absence of any completion of a Missouri Uniform Crash Report, the Safety Committee shall make a determination as to whether a Preventable Accident has occurred.
If a Preventable Accident occurs, the employee responsible will at a minimum not qualify for the safety bonus for that year (if otherwise applicable) and be issued appropriate disciplinary action for the incident.
It will be the responsibility of the Department Head to issue appropriate discipline following a Preventable Accident in consultation with the Human Resources Manager.
If any subsequent Preventable Accident occurs within any 24-month period, the employee will be subject to further disciplinary action, which may include suspension without pay, demotion or employment termination, taking into consideration any aggravating circumstances as described below. The discipline for any such subsequent Preventable Accident shall be the responsibility of the Department Head in consultation with the City's Human Resources Manager, taking into consideration all applicable provisions of the City's Personnel Rules and Regulations.
Aggravating circumstances to be reviewed, shall include, but not be limited to: the severity of injury or vehicular or other property damage; level of negligence or willful disregard of safety procedures or policy on the part of the employee; refusal to follow established traffic laws, safety rules or regulations; failure to pass a drug/alcohol screening; and any prior incidents of one or more Preventable Accident and any prior disciplinary action in the personnel file of the employee.
Any violation of a safety policy, rule or regulation shall also be subject to disciplinary action even if there is no Preventable Accident. Generally, a written warning should be issued to any employee for the first violation of any safety policy, rule or regulation which does not result in a Preventable Accident or any damage to property or person. Any safety violation thereafter shall result in more severe disciplinary action, including the possibility of employment termination.
[Ord. No. 10516, 9-20-2018; Ord. No. 10776, 10-6-2022; Ord. No. 10803, 4-20-2023]
a. 
Supervisors shall determine the designation and use of appropriate personal protective equipment through consideration of environmental factors, the task, and the individual employee. In order that safety devices or safeguards be acceptable as to proper type, design, strength and quality, they shall be at least equivalent to those complying with The American National Standards Institute (ANSI), Bureau of Standards, or other recognized authorities, where applicable. Detailed specifications for the design, purpose, and purchase of all protective equipment shall be the responsibility of the authorized department in conjunction with the Safety Manager.
b. 
The employee shall be responsible for the proper use of specialized equipment provided by the City for his or her safety. In addition, any employee-owned personal protective equipment must also comply with the standards and be maintained in a safe, sanitary condition at all times and available for inspection by the Supervisor.
c. 
When the use of personal protective equipment has been specified for hazardous work, its use shall be mandatory. Seat belts must be in use at all times. Supervisors shall be held accountable for training their employees in the proper use and wearing of the equipment when required, and the appropriate documentation of all training.
Proper Dress
Each employee shall wear clothing suitable for the job he or she is performing at all times. Suitable clothing means clothing that will minimize the possibility of damage from moving machinery, hot or injurious substances, or other harmful agents. Proper dress standards shall be governed by the discretion of the Department Head or Supervisor.
[Ord. No. 10516, 9-20-2018; Ord. No. 10776, 10-6-2022; Ord. No. 10803, 4-20-2023]
Driver Training
All drivers shall receive training on good driving practices, proper care and adherence to maintenance schedules, good maintenance records, and prompt repair — all of which will aid in the safety of both driver and pedestrians. Each Department Head, in conjunction with the Safety Manager, shall determine the exact nature of the training, which may include the use of safety meetings, seminars, and defensive driving courses, with refresher courses as needed.