[Added by Ord. No. 100-2004; amended by Ord. No. 23-2007]
(1)
Policy. Oneida County is committed to providing a safe work environment
for all its employees. The risk management team will give top priority
to and provide the financial resources for the correction of unsafe
working conditions and the analysis of unsafe work practices. A protocol
has been established for this purpose and we expect to see our mission
of minimizing workplace injuries and incidents fulfilled. Employees
are encouraged to offer recommendations that will improve safety or
working conditions. Department heads will also be actively involved
in maintaining an effective safety program. All County employees are
expected to perform their jobs to the best of their ability as well
as perform them in a safe manner.
(2)
Objectives.
(a)
Establish a comprehensive countywide safety policy and guidelines.
(b)
Assist department heads in establishing department specific safety
policies.
(c)
Provide employees with the necessary supervision, training and guidance
that will foster a positive attitude toward safety.
(d)
Establish channels of communication through which employees will
report unsafe working conditions to their supervisors.
(e)
Provide personal protective equipment to employees where necessary
to eliminate or reduce hazardous conditions.
(f)
Insure compliance with all applicable safety standards and regulations
as required by Federal and State Laws.
(g)
Reduce the costs and claims incurred directly and indirectly by unsafe
acts or hazardous conditions.
(h)
Monitor, evaluate and analyze the effectiveness of the safety program.
(3)
Structure. The Risk Management Program authority will be delegated
in the following manner:
(a)
The Oneida County Board of Supervisors. The Board will approve all
policies, objectives and the structure of the Risk Management Program.
(b)
County Committee of Jurisdiction. Labor Relations and Employee Services
Committee. Procedural changes, such as the use of additional and/or
revised forms, records and reports shall be reviewed and approved
by the Committee.
(c)
The Risk Management Team. County Clerk, Human Resources Director,
Finance Director, Public Health Department Director.
[Amended 2-19-2019 by Res. No. 21-2019 (Ord. No. 4-2019), effective 3-2-2019]
(d)
Department Heads.
(e)
County Employees.
1.
Risk Management Team. The Risk Management Team is designed to recognize
and respond to the risk exposures encountered on a daily basis by
County employees and the general public. The Team will recommend policies
and establish procedures for the research, analysis, development,
design and coordination of countywide Risk and Safety Programs and
evaluate and recommend amendments to the policies as they deem necessary.
All policies are subject to approval by the Labor Relations and Employee
Services Committee and County Board. The Risk Management Team will
ensure that there are programs and policies in place that will meet
the requirements of all applicable federal and state laws and regulations.
They will prepare, monitor and expend the risk and safety budget and
report to the Labor Relations and Employee Services Committee. They
will administer and coordinate County programs under the Worker's
Compensation Act through the evaluation and review of accident reports
and worker's compensation claims and will assist in the training of
supervisory personnel regarding elements of County policies and statutory
requirements. The Team will work closely with the County's insurance
carriers to ensure that all claims, records and reports are completed
accurately and timely and will develop a First Aid Log reporting system.
The Team will review all County departments' First Aid Logs at a minimum
of quarterly and will make recommendations for changes or modifications
to work areas. Team members may represent the County at various meetings
relating to Risk and Safety issues.
a.
Human Resources Director.
[Amended 2-19-2019 by Res. No. 21-2019 (Ord. No. 4-2019), effective 3-2-2019]
1)
Coordinate Loss Prevention consulting activity and support provided
by the Loss Prevention Services and Claim departments.
2)
Coordinate prompt claims reporting.
3)
Assist the Health Department Director with return-to-work duties
as deemed appropriate by the County's insurance carrier and preferred
doctors.
4)
Help supervisors and employees each fully understand their role
and function within the return-to-work plan.
5)
Communicate changes in insurance coverage to all employees.
6)
Develop a Safety Orientation program and a procedure for disseminating
safety policies to newly hired and present employees.
7)
Act as a liaison between benefit providers and any County employee
in an effort to provide an amicable solution to any dispute.
8)
Meet regularly with and assist the County Clerk, Finance Director
and Health Department Director in analyzing claims and developing
and coordinating risk and safety programs.
b.
Finance Director.
1)
Analyze and classify exposures and/or losses as to frequency
and severity and measure the financial impact on Oneida County.
2)
Recommend appropriate techniques to minimize loss, such as avoidance,
loss prevention and reduction retention through self-insurance, grouping
of exposure units, insurance pools and transfer of property, activity
or risk to another responsible party.
3)
Analyze and report on the status of current risk/safety budgets
and projected expenditures.
4)
Meet regularly with the Human Resources Director, County Clerk
and Health Department Director in analyzing claims and developing
and coordinating risk and safety programs.
[Amended 2-19-2019 by Res. No. 21-2019 (Ord. No. 4-2019), effective 3-2-2019]
c.
County Clerk.
1)
Receive all liability/property/casualty claims on behalf of
the County and submit to the appropriate insurance provider in a timely
manner.
2)
Administer and coordinate insurance programs such as fidelity,
surety, liability and property.
3)
Establish and maintain a countywide insurable asset underwriting
system and be responsible for accurate reporting of insurable values
on the insurance policies.
4)
Assist department heads, in conjunction with contracted risk
management services, with obtaining proper levels of indemnity on
contracts.
5)
Provide clerical support to Risk Management Team.
6)
Meet regularly with the Human Resources Director, Finance Director
and Health Department Director in analyzing claims and developing
and coordinating risk and safety programs.
[Amended 2-19-2019 by Res. No. 21-2019 (Ord. No. 4-2019), effective 3-2-2019]
d.
Public Health Director.
1)
Monitor the County Departments' incident recording system to
include: first report of injury, incident reports, incident investigation
and corrective actions. Inform Risk Management Team of progress on
corrections and benchmarking achievements.
2)
Assist in training Oneida County employees in safety and health
matters.
3)
Assist Department Heads, as requested, with evaluating and correcting
unsafe work areas and unsafe employee work practices.
4)
Work closely with the County's Worker's Compensation Insurance
carrier in an effort to minimize the frequency and severity of claims.
5)
Analyze all workers' compensation claims and administer and
coordinate the County's return-to-work program.
6)
Meet regularly with the Human Resources Director, Finance Director
and County Clerk in analyzing claims and developing and coordinating
risk and safety programs.
[Amended 2-19-2019 by Res. No. 21-2019 (Ord. No. 4-2019), effective 3-2-2019]
2.
Department Heads. Each Oneida County Department Head has an important
responsibility for safety in their department. They are the primary
contact for their department's staff. Each Department Head should
understand his/her responsibility in providing safe working conditions
and teaching of safe work practices within their department. Department
Heads responsibilities include but are not limited to the duties listed
below.
a.
Develop base line safe work performance expectations and work
practices. Prepare draft policies and procedures concerning safety
issues and training programs within the department.
b.
Complete a general safety orientation checklist with new employees
and provide them or transferring employees with detailed job specific
safety regulations.
c.
Review with employees the necessity of using the proper personal
safety equipment where/when required and provide detailed instruction
on its proper usage. Insure that the proper safety equipment is available
on the job site.
d.
Identify and correct any unsafe working condition or unsafe
work practice.
e.
Investigate all incidents immediately and submit the required
incident reports within 24 hours.
f.
Maintain the Department First Aid Log and copy to the Human
Resources Director as necessary or as requested.
[Amended 2-19-2019 by Res. No. 21-2019 (Ord. No. 4-2019), effective 3-2-2019]
g.
Provide the Risk Management Team copies of all departmental
safety rules, procedures, programs, training, expenditures, violations
and conditions as they are created or modified.
h.
Prepare draft policies and procedures concerning safety training
within their departments.
i.
Enforce Oneida County's disciplinary protocol in cases of clear
disregard of a safe work expectation.
3.
County Employees. County employees are expected to perform their
job tasks to the best of their ability and in a safe manner. It is
critical that employees learn, understand and practice safe work behavior
and do not disregard the safety features of the various pieces of
equipment used on their job site.
a.
Practice safe work habits and follow safety procedures and regulations.
b.
Maintain equipment in good working order and with all the required
safety features in place and operational.
c.
Keep work area orderly and free of obstructions.
d.
Report defective equipment or safety devices to supervisor immediately
when observed.
e.
Report all injuries and incidents to supervisor/department head
immediately regardless of how minor and assist in completing report
forms as required or requested.
f.
Actively participate in safety training provided by department.
g.
Assist co-workers with proper safety techniques and procedures.
h.
Remember, all accidents are preventable.
