Policy Text
Ref: CALEA
Standard N/A
DEPARTMENTAL
GENERAL ORDER G-2 Rev.
1 May 00
Index as: Accidents, Occupational Industrial Accidents, Injuries, Occupational Occupational Accidents OSHA
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OCCUPATIONAL ACCIDENTS
The purpose of this order is to set fort h procedures for reporting deaths, serious
illnesses, and injuries sustained by citizens in connection with their employment. The reporting requirements for the priv ate and public sectors are both now
governed by the California Occupational Sa fety and Health Act (OSHA) of 1973.
Although members and employees are also covered by State OSHA provisions,
the reporting requirements set forth in Departmental General Order D-4, SICK
AND INJURY PROCEDURES , shall be followed.
I. DEFINITIONS: STATE OSHA
A. Employment is defined as any trade, enterprise, project, industry,
business, occupation, or work (ex cept household domestic service)
or any process or operation relating thereto (Labor Code Section 6303(b).
B. Occupational or industrial illnesses, injuries and deaths are those
which occur in connection with employment, unless they result from:
1. An accident on a public street or highway (Labor Code
Section 6302 (h)).
2. A Penal Code violation, other than a violation of PC 385.
(Accidents resulting from equipment near high voltage lines (PC 385) are defined as industrial per Labor Code Section
6302 (h)).
DEPARTMENTAL GENERAL ORDER G-2 Rev.
1 May 00 OAKLAND POLICE DEPARTMENT
C. Occupational illnesses are defined as any abnormal condition or
disorder caused by exposure to environmental factors associated with
employment, including acute and chronic illnesses or diseases which
may be caused by inhalation, absorp tion, ingestion or direct contact
(Labor Code Section 6409(b)).
D. Labor Code Section 6302 (h) defines an occupational injury or illness as serious
if the person:
1. Requires inpatient hospitalization for more than 24 hours for
other than medical observation.
2. Suffers the loss of any part of the body.
3. Is permanently disfigured.
4. Is killed.
E. Serious exposure is defined as any exposure of an employee to a
hazardous substance as a result of an incident, accident, emergency, or exposure over time in a degree or amount sufficient to create a
probability that death or serious physical harm in the future could
result from the exposure (Labor Code Section 6302 (i)).
II. JURISDICTION
In 1989, the California Occupational Safety and Health Administration was granted jurisdiction over occupational injuries and illnesses involving private and public sector work sites. The only exceptions are occupational
accidents, which occur on federal property and are the jurisdiction of
Federal OSHA.
III. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
A. Departmental personnel are not required to submit written reports of
serious occupational accidents by members or employees to Cal
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DEPARTMENTAL GENERAL ORDER G-2 Rev.
1 May 00 OAKLAND POLICE DEPARTMENT
OSHA or Federal OSHA. Owners, mana gers and custodians of the
work sites involved, are responsible for the required written reports.
B. Cal OSHA requires a telephone report from members responding to
a serious occupational accident involving private or public sector
employee work sites. Serious occupational accidents that occur on federal property should also be reported to Cal OSHA who will
notify Federal OSHA.
C. Federal OSHA has no reporting requirements for members.
IV. REPORTING PROCEDURES
A. Members shall be assigned to the scene of reported industrial
accidents if a fatality is known or believed to have occurred, or if there is a need for police presence at the scene (rescue assistance,
criminal activity, etc.)
B. The need for ambulance service shall be evaluated separately in
accordance with General Order I-4, AMBULANCE SERVICE.
C. Labor Code Section 6409.2 requires a peace officer or firefighter
who responds to the scene of a serious private or public sector accident or death to immediately report the incident by telephone to the nearest office of the State Division of Occupational Safety and Health.
1. Whenever both fire and police personnel respond to an
occupational accident, the senior Police Department representative at the scene shall assume responsibility for making the telephone report.
2. The report shall include as much of the following information
as possible:
a. The name, ages and address of the injured, ill or
deceased person.
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DEPARTMENTAL GENERAL ORDER G-2 Rev.
1 May 00 OAKLAND POLICE DEPARTMENT
b. The name and address of the employing agency or
business and the type of industry.
c. The date, time and location of the accident.
3. As soon as conditions permit, but not more than 8 hours
following the incident, the member shall telephone the above
information to the district office of the State Division of
Occupational Safety and Health at (510) 622-2916.
By order of Richard L. Word Chief of Police
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