Policy Text
Page 1 of 3 26/04 (REV 10/98)
Department Safety Committee
The purpose of the General Order is to define the composition o f the Department Safety
Committee, delineate the respons ibilities of its members and de scribe its functions.
I. Committee Composition
A. Chair
1. The Department Safety Office r shall chair the committee.
a. Shall choose any permanent c ommittee member to facilitate
the meeting in the event the c hairperson is not able to
attend.
B. Members 1. Each division executive offi cer shall preside as a permane nt
c o m m i t t e e m e m b e r . a . T h e d i v i s i o n e x e c u t i v e o f f i c e r s h a l l s e r v e a s t h e d i v i s i on
s a f e t y r e p r e s e n t a t i v e . b . T h e d i v i s i o n e x e c u t i v e o f f i c e r s h a l l b e i n a t t endance of each
c o m m i t t e e m e e t i n g .
(1) The division executive officer shall appoint one
alternate to represent the division in the event the division executive officer is unable to attend.
( 2 ) T h e a l t e r n a t e s h a l l n o t b e c o n s i d e r e d a p e r m a n e n t c o m m i t t e e m e m b e r . 2. The Department Employee Re lations Officer shall preside as a
permanent member of the committee. 3. The service area represent atives from Patrol and Correctio nal
S e r v i c e s s h a l l p r e s i d e a s p e r m a n e n t m e m b e r s o f t h e c o m m i t t e e .
a . E a c h s e r v i c e a r e a s h a l l b e r e p r e s e n t e d .
Page 2 of 3 26/04 (REV 10/98) II. Committee Responsibilities
A. The committee shall: 1. Meet each calendar month o f each year at regular intervals .
2. Prepare and make available to all affected employees writt en
r e c o r d s o f s a f e t y and health issues discussed at each meeting.
a . T h e D epartment Safety Officer shall maintain the records for
a p e r i o d o f one calendar year.
b . E x c e p t i o n : Inmates of correctional and work release
f a c ilities shall not have access to any such record(s).
3. Review investigations or o ccupational accidents and causes of
i n c i d e n t s r e s u l t i n g i n i n j u r y and/or illness to Department employees
o r e x p o s u r e t o h a z a r dous substances or conditions, and where
appropriate, submit recommendati on(s) to the Executive Staff for
t h e p r e v e n t i o n o f future incidents.
a . T h e c o m m i t t e e m a y s e e k t h e c o n s u l t a t i o n o f o u t s i d e p r o f e s s i o n a l s a t will.
4. Review the results of wor ksite inspections at regular inte rvals and
m a k e i nquiries at will.
5. Review investigations of alleged hazardous conditions brou ght to
t h e a t t e n t i o n o f a n y c o m m i t t e e m e m b e r . a . T h e c o m m i t t e e m a y c onduct its own investigation or
i n s p e c t i o n t o a s s i s t i n r e m e d i a l s o l u t i o n s a t will.
6. Evaluate employee safety suggestions and submit a r e c o m m endation(s) to Executive Staff regarding the suggestion.
7. Upon the request of the Divisio n of Occupational Safety an d Health,
t h e c o m m i t t e e s h a l l v e r i f y abatement action taken by the Sheriff’s
D epartment to abate any citati on(s) issued by CAL/OSHA.
III. Committee Functions
A. The committee shall serve as an objective entity in an affi rmative effort to
prevent, or mitigate to the ex tent feasible, Department emplo yee injury
and illness.