[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of County
Commissioners of Doña Ana County 2-13-2007 by Res. No. 2007-25. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
A.
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.
B.
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.
C.
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:
Employees and volunteers are expected to:
A.
Always
perform duties in a safe manner and follow safety procedures;
B.
Ask questions
if they are unsure how to do something safely;
C.
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;
D.
Use and
care for personal protective equipment according to the Personal Protective
Equipment Policy or direction from their supervisor;
E.
Promptly
report any workplace injury to their supervisor;
F.
Share ideas
for safety with a supervisor, the Risk Manager or a member of the
Safety and Loss Control Committee.
A.
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.
B.
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.
A.
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.
B.
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.
C.
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.
A.
The County
Risk Manager shall serve as management's liaison and Loss Control
Committee and be responsible for scheduling its meetings.
B.
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.
C.
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.
D.
In cases
where immediate threat to safety appears to exist, the Risk Manager
has authority to stop all activities until safety concerns are resolved.
E.
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.
A.
The County
Manager may issue policies and/or procedures relating to safety and
loss control.
B.
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.
