RISK MANAGEMENT PROCEDURE SUBJECT: CITY-WIDE SAFETY R 1.0 EFFECTIVE: 07/17/87 REVIEWED: 1/15/18 I. PURPOSE The procedures and practices established in this document are designed to increase productivity, improve the work environment, and ensure the safety of City employees. This will, at the same time, reduce injuries, prolong the usable life of vehicles and equipment, and reduce the actual costs of workers compensation and liability claims. II. SCOPE This procedure applies to all City employees, including part-time employees, temporary employees and volunteers; and uniformed police and fire department employees, for whom such conduct is prohibited by other enactments. III. DEFINITIONS Incident Incidents are defined as any of the following situations; near miss situation in which an employee could have been injured, damage to city property, damage to private property, injury to a citizen and a motor vehicle accident. Confined Space: A space that has an opening large enough for an employee to enter and perform assigned work. However, it is not designed to be occupied continuously and has limited or restricted means for entry and exit. Examples may include tanks, storage bins, vessels, silos, hoppers, vaults, and pits. IV. PROCEDURE Procedures and practices for the general safety of City employees are addressed in this City- Wide Safety Procedure. Procedures for specific programs are stated in subsequent sections of this procedure. Departmental safety procedures may be implemented in conjunction with the City-Wide Safety Procedure to supplement the procedures listed herein. R 1.0 City-Wide Safety Page 1 of 11
V. PROCEDURES a. Facility Safety Inspections: City owned and inhabited facilities will be inspected at least once annually by the Risk Management Division, in addition City Departments may also perform safety inspections on a routine basis. Inspections are conducted to evaluate compliance with the City-Wide Safety Procedure and to identify potential safety hazards. Facility fire safety, building maintenance, housekeeping, and general safety processes will be evaluated during each inspection. Risk Management will provide each department with inspection summaries and recommendations for corrective action. The Department Director/Assistant Director will work with the assigned Safety Coordinator to implement corrective action plans. (See Attachment A). b. Safety Library: The division of Risk Management has available for all City Employees a safety library from which training aides may be checked out. The library consists of videos, PowerPoint presentations, and handouts in the form of brochures and pamphlets. The inventory can be viewed on the City s website, or in person at the office of Risk Management. Additional safety training resources such as safety posters, custom PowerPoint presentations, and safety meeting guides are also available. For information on availability of training resources and material check-out procedures, contact Risk Management at 826-3679. c. Safety Training: This City-Wide Safety Procedure shall be explained during each New Employee Orientation. Training for departmental safety procedures shall also be conducted for all new employees prior to beginning work and on an as needed basis. Hazard Communication (Procedure R 2.0) and Bloodborne Pathogens (Procedure R 10.0) training shall be conducted for all new employees and on an annual basis for all remaining employees. Training documentation shall be maintained for all employees for a minimum of five years. Additional safety training will be available from Risk Management to fulfill departmental training requests and to reduce injuries and incident occurrences. d. Department Safety Procedure Development and Review: Each City department shall develop and maintain a department safety procedure that addresses safety needs specific to their operation. Department safety procedures should include the following elements as appropriate: Management/Procedure Statement, Record Keeping Procedures, Training Programs, Inspections and Audits procedures, Analysis component, and Accident Investigation Procedures. Departmental safety procedures shall be reviewed annually by the department with all revisions approved by the Department Director. Training for each departmental safety procedure is the responsibility of the department and should be conducted for all new employees as a part of a new employee safety orientation prior to beginning their work assignments, and annually for all others. Assistance with preparation of departmental safety procedures is available from Risk Management and the Safety Advisory Board. e. Reporting Incidents: The Automobile Loss/Incident Report (Attachment B) shall be used for reporting incidents and damages to city owned vehicles and personal vehicles used to conduct City business. Complete the Automobile Loss/Incident Report form and submit to the office of Risk Management within 48 hours of an incident. Additional documentation of an incident must include an employee statement describing the incident, and/or a Utility Damage Report for damage to underground utilities. If the R 1.0 City-Wide Safety Page 2 of 11
incident involves an injury to a City employee, refer to procedure R 3.0, Reporting on the Job Injuries for additional reporting requirements. f. Injury Investigations: Injuries to City employees shall be investigated by the department s safety representative and/or the department Director s designee. The investigation will be documented on the Injury Investigation Form (Attachment C). If, after a documented investigation, it is determined that an injury occurred as a result of a City employee violating safety rules or procedures, it should be reflected on the employee s personnel record so that it may be included on the employee s annual performance evaluation. g. Fire Drills: Fire drills, in accordance with NFPA 72: 2010 edition should be conducted annually. Results of fire drills shall be documented using the Fire Drill Report Form (Attachment D). Safety concerns as a result of fire drills shall be discussed at the monthly SAB meeting where a plan of action to address the safety concerns will be formulated. h. Personal Protective Equipment: Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) including, but not limited to, safety glasses, hard hats, visibility vests, gloves, rain gear, hearing protection, gas monitoring devices, welding clothing and shields, life preservers, breathing apparatuses, and special application tools, shall be provided by the appropriate department. Purchase of safety shoes and prescription safety glasses is the responsibility of the employee, with a reimbursement of up to $100 dollars per fiscal year provided by the city (refer to procedure R 5.0, Safety Shoes and Prescription Glasses for more details). PPE not immediately available should be reported to the supervisor. Use of PPE is the employee s responsibility and failure to use PPE may be cause for disciplinary action up to and including termination. Refer to specific departmental procedures and procedures for required use of personal protective equipment. i. Confined Space Entry Program: The City s Confined Space Entry Program is designed to provide a safe working environment while working in confined spaces. Each department has specific procedures regarding confined space work and those procedures shall be followed at all times. Failure to follow the procedures and guidelines established by the department s Confined Space Entry Program may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination. For further assistance regarding confined space work, refer to the Confined Space Entry Program Manual located in the City Engineering Services Department. j. Traffic Control for Construction/Maintenance Zone Safety: A manual has been prepared to provide a uniform system of traffic control devices for all City streets and roads. All City personnel involved in the design/review and implementation of the traffic control plan should use standards described in their own departmental specific manual/procedures. The Manual on Uniform Barricading Standards and Practices and The Texas Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices may be referenced for specific guidelines. Both manuals can be found in the Traffic Engineering Division. l. Trenching & Shoring Safety Rules: The City s Trenching & Shoring Procedure is designed to protect City employees who are required to work in excavations, by guarding/shielding them while they are working in an excavation, making repairs, or new construction. Failure to follow this procedure may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination. Refer to Procedure R 6.0 for more information. R 1.0 City-Wide Safety Page 3 of 11
m. Worksite Safety Inspections: Safety Coordinators will perform worksite inspections routinely or as needed to assist with safe working practices and conditions (Attachment E). n. Driver Evaluations: Supervisors and/or Safety Coordinators will perform driver evaluations routinely or as needed to assist with safe driving behavior (Attachment F). VI. ATTACHMENTS/FORMS: A. Facility Inspection Form B. Automobile Loss / Incident Report C. Injury Investigation Form D. Fire Drill Report E. Worksite Safety Observation Checklist F. Driver Evaluation Checklist Reproducible copies of all forms are available on the city s intranet site (www.citynet.cc). VII. PROCEDURE UPDATE This procedure shall be reviewed on an annual basis by the Safety Advisory Board (S.A.B.). Revisions to the procedure shall be approved by the Safety & Risk Manager and by the City Attorney. VIII. CONSEQUENCES FOR VIOLATION OF THIS PROCEDURE Failure to comply with this procedure will result in disciplinary action up to and including termination. IX. QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS PROCEDURE Questions regarding this Procedure shall be directed to the Safety & Risk Manager, or designee, who may be contacted at 826-3680. R 1.0 City-Wide Safety Page 4 of 11
Facility Inspection Form Facility: Facility Address: Date: Inspector: Accompanied by: Emergency Exits / Exit Corridors / Stairwells Yes No NA 1. Emergency Exit Maps Posted 2. Emergency Exit Signs Present and Illuminated 3. All Exits Unobstructed 4. All Pull Stations Clearly Marked and Unobstructed 5. All Aisles/Corridors Unobstructed to Allow Evacuation 6. Are Stairs Free of Liter or Spills 7. Is Stairwell Adequately Lit 8. Signs in Stairwell Posted and Legible Fire Extinguishers Yes No NA 1. Fire Extinguishers Clearly Marked and Unobstructed 2. Fire Extinguishers Charged, Inspected & Tagged Walking Surfaces Yes No NA 1. Is Carpet Maintained and Free of Trip Hazards 2. Interior Walkways Free of Trip Hazards 3. Exterior Walkways Free of Trip Hazards 4. Handrails, Treads and Risers in Good Condition 5. Signs Posted to Use Handrails or Watch Your Step R 1.0 City-Wide Safety Attachment A Page 5 of 11
Electrical Hazards Yes No NA 1. Grounds in Place on All Electrical Equipment 2. All Breakers Marked 3. Breakers Boxes Accessible 4. Covers on Breaker Boxes 5. J-Box s Covered with Plate 6. Electrical Cords in Good Condition 7. Signs Posted for Electrical Hazards Chemical / Fire Hazards Yes No NA 1. All Chemical Containers Labeled 2. MSDS Available for All Employees 3. Flammables Stored Away from Ignition Sources 4. Eye Station in Working Condition 5. First Aid Kit Available on Premises 6. Compressed Gas Cylinders Restrained Outside 7. Signs Posted for Chemical or Fire Hazards 8. Are employees trained annually in Haz/Com Hand Tools and Powered Equipment Yes No NA 1. All Hand Tools in Good Condition 2. All Power Tools in Good Condition 3. All Guards Present on Powered Equipment 4. Signs Posted Reminding Employees to Use PPE R 1.0 City-Wide Safety Attachment A Page 6 of 11
R 1.0 City-Wide Safety Attachment B Page 7 of 11
R 1.0 City-Wide Safety Attachment C Page 8 of 11
R 1.0 City-Wide Safety Attachment D Page 9 of 11
WORKSITE SAFETY OBSERVATION CHECKLIST Department: Site Observation Location: Date: This generalized checklist is intended to assist evaluation of employees in their work environment, in order to identify safe work practices, unsafe conditions, and/or to determine if employees are performing their jobs safely. Yes No N/A 1. Are employee(s) following established safety polices and procedures? 2. Are employee(s) maintaining proper housekeeping procedures in worksite? 3. Are employee(s) maintaining proper body mechanics in the performance of job duty? 4. Are employee(s) utilizing required personal protective equipment? 5. Are employee(s) performing major job tasks in a safe manner? 6. Are employee(s) operating vehicles and/or equipment in a safe manner? 7. Is equipment properly maintained? 8. Are employee(s) following proper fire safety procedures? 9. Have employee(s) had yearly mandated hazard communication training program? 10. Is employee s worksite considered hazardous? If yes explain; 11. What are the employees potential hazards at this worksite? 12. Miscellaneous: Completed by: Date: Revised: 11/2013 R 1.0 City-Wide Safety Attachment E Page 10 of 11
R 1.0 City-Wide Safety Attachment F Page 11 of 11