Policy Text
DEPARTMENTAL GENERAL ORDER G-4
Rev.
24 Aug 98
Index as: Accidents, Departmental Safety Board, Safety Appeal
Committee, Departmental Safety
Coordinator, Departmental Safety
Departmental Safety
Safety, Departmental
Page 1 of 8
DEPARTMENTAL SAFETY
The purpose of this order is to set forth the responsibilities of the Departmental Safety Coordinator, the Safety Committee, the Safety Appeal Board, and all members and employees for maintaining safe equipment and safe work habits and conditions. The order also sets forth procedures for reviewing vehicular and non-vehicular accidents involving Departmental personnel. I. DEPARTMENTAL SAFETY PROGRAM
A. The purpose of the safety program shall be to prevent vehicular and non-vehicular accidents and to investigate properly any accidents that do occur so that corrective action or training can be implemented.
B. All members and employees shall complete their assignments with the skill and care necessary to prevent accidents and shall avoid unsafe work habits.
C. Commanders and/or Section Supervisors shall take immediate action to correct unsafe conditions and equipment, and to correct unsafe work habits of subordinates.
II. DEPARTMENTAL SAFETY COORDINATOR
A. The Safety Coordinator shall be assigned to the Personnel and Training Division.
B. The Coordinator shall develop and present safety education programs as needed or as requested by supervisory or command
DEPARTMENTAL GENERAL ORDER
OAKLAND POLICE DEPARTMENT G-4 Rev.
24 Aug 98
Page 2 of 8 officers, the Departmental Safety Committee, or the Departmental Safety Appeal Board.
1. The Coordinator shall be responsible for securing, preparing,
and disseminating training aids, such as posters, safety
demonstrations, bulletin board displays, Daily Bulletin messages, films, and video presentations.
2. The Coordinator shall review safety needs with command and supervisory officers as necessary and assist in the development of safe work conditions and work habits.
C. The Coordinator shall be a voting member of the Departmental Safety Committee and shall perform specific duties at the instructions of the Committee Chairperson.
D. The Coordinator shall receive copies of all Vehicle Collision Reports (TF-3047) and other types of accident reports whenever Departmental members and employees are involved in the incident.
1. The Coordinator shall review all such reports to identify patterns that may indicate unsafe practices and procedures.
2. The Coordinator shall review each accident report and refer reports to the Departmental Safety Committee as required.
a. The Coordinator shall refer Vehicle Collision Reports
to the Safety Committee if:
1) There is an indication that the accident resulted from poor judgment or negligence.
2) There is an indication that the accident resulted from violations of the law or Departmental regulations.
3) The accident occurred during a Code 3 or vehicle pursuit incident.
4) The accident caused property damage or injury.
DEPARTMENTAL GENERAL ORDER
OAKLAND POLICE DEPARTMENT G-4 Rev.
24 Aug 98
Page 3 of 8 5) The Coordinator feels that training value would result from a hearing.
6) The collision resulted from the use of a pursuit
intervention technique as authorized in Special
Order No. 4674.
b. The Coordinator shall refer non-vehicular accident
reports to the Safety Committee if:
1) A member or employee was injured and required hospitalization.
2) A member or employee was injured and lost one or more days of duty.
3) It appears that equipment failed or malfunctioned or was misused or unavailable.
3. The Coordinator shall evaluate each report that is not forwarded to the Safety Committee and make a recommendation as to whether the accident was preventable, preventable but justified, or not preventable, as defined in Part III, D, 2, of this order.
a. If the Safety Coordinator recommends that the accident was preventable, but review by the Safety Committee is not required, the Coordinator shall notify the individual's bureau commander by memorandum and
attach copies of the accident report and the Accident
Record Card (TF-2089). The memorandum shall be forwarded to the bureau commander through the Office of the Chief of Police.
b. If the Safety Coordinator recommends that the accident was not preventable or was preventable but justified, the Coordinator shall submit the recommendation through the member’s or employee’s chain of command to the Chief of Police for review.
DEPARTMENTAL GENERAL ORDER
OAKLAND POLICE DEPARTMENT G-4 Rev.
24 Aug 98
Page 4 of 8 E. The Coordinator shall prepare and distribute monthly and annual safety reports containing an analysis of the accident experience of the Department. The reports shall identify vehicle accident statistics by Area and all other accidents by Division.
F. The Coordinator shall be responsible for maintaining records required by the California Occupational Safety and Health Act (Cal/OSHA).
G. The Coordinator shall arrange Safety Appeal Board hearings and participate in them as a nonvoting member.
H. The Coordinator shall maintain information regarding the availability of programs about health, weight, and physical conditioning.
III. DEPARTMENTAL SAFETY COMMITTEE
A. The Safety Committee shall meet as needed and shall be comprised of the following persons:
1. Permanent Members:
a. Commander of the Personnel and Training Division, who shall serve as chairperson.
b. Departmental Safety Coordinator.
c. Traffic Division Administrative Sergeant.
d. City Attorney Representative (non-voting)
2. Temporary Members - Appointed by the Chief of Police each 15 Jan and 15 Jul to serve six-month terms.
a. One Captain.
b. One Lieutenant.
c. One Sergeant.
DEPARTMENTAL GENERAL ORDER
OAKLAND POLICE DEPARTMENT G-4 Rev.
24 Aug 98
Page 5 of 8 d. One Police Officer.
B. The Committee shall conduct a complete facility safety inspection annually and report its findings