Doña Ana County, NM Safety and Loss Control

The safety of County employees and the general public is of primary importance to the County of Doña Ana. It is the intent of this policy to provide safe working conditions and establish operating practices that will promote a safe environment for all.

Accidents cause untold suffering and financial loss to those injured and represent a waste of human and economic resources. A safe and healthful operation conserves these resources, improves the quality of life, and is essential to any efficient operation.

Integrating safety and loss control into all aspects of our County's operations will require everyone's involvement. All levels of management and all employees and volunteers are responsible for developing, implementing and monitoring a program of safety and loss control that will minimize the risk of injury or damage to:

(1)

The public employee;

(2)

The general public;

(3)

County property;

(4)

The ability of the agency to fulfill its mission; and

(5)

The environment.

§ 102-2 Duties of employees and volunteers.

Employees and volunteers are expected to:

Always perform duties in a safe manner and follow safety procedures;

Ask questions if they are unsure how to do something safely;

Report anything that appears to be unsafe to a supervisor or to Risk Management, and employees and volunteers are not required to use equipment they believe is unsafe;

Use and care for personal protective equipment according to the Personal Protective Equipment Policy or direction from their supervisor;

Promptly report any workplace injury to their supervisor;

Share ideas for safety with a supervisor, the Risk Manager or a member of the Safety and Loss Control Committee.

§ 102-3 Duties of managers.

Each elected or appointed official, department director, manager and supervisor shall make safety and the prevention of loss a top priority every day. They shall be responsible for ensuring that the following items are done:

(1)

Appropriately screening prospective new employees prior to any offer of employment.

(2)

Systematically and fully training new employees regarding safe work practices and the use of all equipment that they are expected to operate.

(3)

Ensuring that all employees follow safe work practices on the job.

(4)

Ensuring that all County equipment is properly maintained and used for its intended purpose.

(5)

Ensuring that proper personal protective equipment is worn when needed.

(6)

Reporting and investigating all accidents promptly and taking corrective action if needed.

(7)

Presenting the findings of investigations and discussing the causes of accidents with the Safety and Loss Control Committee or Risk Manager upon request.

(8)

Incorporating adherence to safety practices as a criterion in employee and supervisor performance evaluations.

Each elected or appointed official, department director, manager and supervisor may delegate the authority to perform the above duties but shall remain responsible to see these duties are accomplished. Any person who is delegated to perform these duties must be identified to and work with both the Safety and Loss Control Committee and the Risk Manager as needed to address safety and loss control issues within his/her department.

§ 102-4 Duties of Countywide Safety and Loss Control Committee.

The Safety and Loss Control Committee (hereinafter "Committee") is created to assist management, employees and volunteers with duties under this policy and to ensure that safety and loss control issues receive appropriate consideration throughout the County.

The Committee shall provide guidance to the County as it carries out this policy, including:

(1)

Reviewing accidents and incidents involving County employees or volunteers or affecting County resources and recommending corrective measures where appropriate.

(2)

Reviewing and recommending safety-related training, incentive and safety recognition programs.

(3)

Initiating and reviewing safety inspections and providing recommendations.

(4)

Recommending procedures and policies to the County Manager and Risk Manager.

(5)

Communicating issues of safety and loss control to all levels of management and staff.

(6)

Upon reviewing an accident and determining that management failure may have significantly contributed to the cause of the accident, the Committee may make a written report to the County Manager, with a copy to the head of the department involved, explaining what the Committee believes the management failure to be and recommending that the County Manager direct a chargeback be made from the current department budget to the risk management line item that will pay for the cost of the accident. The Committee may recommend a chargeback up to $2,000 per accident to the County Manager.

(7)

Upon reviewing the reporting and post-accident investigation of an accident and determining that there was significant management failure to report the accident or investigate the cause of the accident or take timely corrective action, the Committee may make a written report to the County Manager, with a copy to the head of the department involved, explaining what the Committee believes the management failure to be and recommending that the County Manager direct a chargeback be made from the current department budget to the risk management line item that will pay for the cost of the accident. The Committee may recommend a chargeback up to $2,000 per accident to the County Manager.

The Committee shall be composed of seven County employees selected by the Risk Manager and approved by the County Manager. The Risk Manager shall review the membership of the Committee every two years. Other employees may actively participate but may not vote.

§ 102-5 Duties of Risk Manager.

The County Risk Manager shall serve as management's liaison and Loss Control Committee and be responsible for scheduling its meetings.

The Risk Manager shall serve as an ex officio member of the Safety and Loss Control Committee and shall not vote, except in cases of a tie vote.

The Risk Manager shall provide safety information and resources to the departments as the budget allows. The Risk Manager shall prepare all recommendations and reports of the Safety and Loss Control Committee and review them with the County Manager or his/her designee for approval.

In cases where immediate threat to safety appears to exist, the Risk Manager has authority to stop all activities until safety concerns are resolved.

The Risk Manager shall provide routine reports on the activities of the Committee and prepare an annual summary of losses to the Committee. the County Manager and department managers.

§ 102-6 Duties of County Manager.

The County Manager may issue policies and/or procedures relating to safety and loss control.

The County Manager or designee shall:

(1)

Review and approve or deny recommendations by the Safety and Loss Control Committee or the Risk Manager.

(2)

Meet with the Risk Manager to discuss annual reports of loss, recommendations by the Committee and other safety and loss control issues as needed.

(3)

Review reports by the Safety and Loss Control Committee that find management failure is associated with an accident and determine if a chargeback should be assessed to a department and, if so, the amount. The County Manager may also choose to take disciplinary action that is within his/her authority.

(4)

Approve awards, employee incentives and other safety programs.