Policy Text
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Injury and Illness Prevention Program
The purpose of this general order is to provide an injury and i llness prevention program
(IIPP) designed for securing em ployee safety and health while e mployed with the
Sheriff’s Department. I. Responsibilities
A. Sheriff/Undersheriff
1. Has the overall authority and re sponsibility fo r the impleme ntation
of the Department Injur y and Illness Program.
B. Chief Deputy
1. Has the overall responsibilit y for the implementation of the
Department IIPP in his/her r espective service area.
C. Division Commander/Div ision Executive Officer
1. The Division Commander has the overall responsibility for th e
implementation of the Departmen t IIPP in his/her respective
division.
2. The Division’s Executive Offi cer shall be the Division Safet y
Representative. The Division Co mmander shall also appoint an
alternate.
3. Attendance at Department safety meetings is mandatory for th e
Division Safety Representative (Executive Officer) and/or alter nate.
D. Watch Commander/Supervisor
1. Has the overall responsibility to carry out all safety order s in an
affirmative effort to p revent injury and illness to all employe es in
his/her charge.
2. Shall ensure all employees in his/her charge are trained to protect
themselves from the hazards that are known to be present in the ir
respective area(s) of assignment.
a. Attachment D contains General Codes of Safety Practices.
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3. Shall ensure all employees i n his/her charge have and mainta in all
necessary protective equipment required ensuring employee
safety. This is accomplished thro ugh the uniform inspection.
a. All specialized equipment such as respirators,
chemical/biological or other protective clothing shall be
inspected, maintained, utilized and disposed of in accordance with the manufac turer recommendations. Such
equipment shall be read ily available in wor k locations where
the use of such equipmen t can be anticipated.
4. Shall be the instrument of t he Division Commander/Executive
Officer in the execution of the Department IIPP.
5. Shall fairly and uniformly adm inister the provisions of this program.
6. Shall recognize employees who continually exhibit safe pract ices.
a. At random and at the discreti on of the Department Safety
Officer; and
b. When any new or previously unrecognized hazard is
identified; and
c. When any unusual situation warrants an evaluation; and
d. When the Department Saf ety Committee warrants.
E. Employees
1. Shall actively and with due diligence parti cipate in the exe cution of
the Department IIPP and t he program objective.
a. Any employee who has been found to stand in willful
disobedience of a safety order and safe work practices may
be subject to personnel action.
2. Shall utilize the chain of c ommand when participating in thi s
program.
F. Department Safety Officer
1. Shall assist Division Commander s in administering the Divisi on
Safety Program.
2. Shall advise and c onsult the Commander of the Administrative
Division in matters relating to occupational safety and health.
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3. Shall chair the Depar tment Safety Committee.
G. Division Safety Representatives
1. Shall uniformly administer t he provisions of the program at their
respective worksite(s).
2. Shall actively and with due diligence parti cipate in the fun ctions of
the Department Safety Committee in an affirmative effort to pre vent
or mitigate to the extent feasib le employee injury and illness.
II. Program
A. Compliance
1. The Department shall ensure t he program objective is clearly
communicated to all employees.
2. Management shall enforce the prov isions of this program fair ly and
uniformly.
3. Management shall not discriminate against any employee for
reporting any unsafe condition w hether perceived or known.
4. Employees have the right to participate in a compliance insp ection
initiated by CAL/OSHA withou t fear of employer reprisal.
5. All employees are evaluated at regular intervals. Part of th e
evaluation shall be based on t he adherence of safety orders.
6. Personnel shall not ify the Department Safety Officer immedia tely if
a CAL/OSHA inspector arrives at a facility.
B. Communication
1. Open two-way communication sha ll be established in the chain of
command through:
a. Regular Department , Division, or watch meetings where
safety issues can be freely and openly discussed; and
b. Posting and distribution of saf ety-related training bulletin s,
information memos, and other media; and
c. Anonymous notification via the Employee Safety
Suggestion/Hazard Observation form. These forms are
located in common areas a each Division worksite; and
d. An open-door poli cy regarding employee safety and health.
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e. The administration of the D epartment Safety Committee (see
General Order 26/04 entitl ed Department Safety
Committee).
C. Hazard Evaluation
1. The Department Safety Officer shall determine the extent to which
a Division must comply with genera l industry safety orders as s et
forth by the Department of Industr ial Relations. Furthermore, t he
Department Safety Officer shall develop or cause to be develope d
Division-specific inspe