[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.
