City of St. Louis Department of Personnel Administrative Regulation NO. 135

Safety Program

The Safety Regulation of the City of St. Louis is designed to promote safe and efficient performance of City operations, and provide for the protection of the employees, citizens, and visitors of the City.

I. PURPOSE

The purpose of this administrative regulation is to establish an occupational safety and health program in the City Service and to provide the administrative framework for its management. The provisions of this regulation are specifically intended to:

A. Establish the authority and responsibility of the City Safety Manager.

B. Establish responsibility and accountability for the implementation and management of occupational safety and health programs within every City agency.

C. Establish the authority and responsibility of the Agency Safety Coordinator.

II. POLICY

The City of St. Louis will take all appropriate measures to protect the health and safety of its employees in the performance of their assigned work. In addition, the City, where possible, will eliminate or limit to the lowest practicable levels, all adverse affects on human health and the environment resulting from its services, facilities and activities.

A. Safe working conditions and a healthy environment shall be afforded to all City employees. Therefore, all reasonable safeguards, safety equipment and safety training will be provided. Employees are expected to participate in the safety training programs, use the safety equipment which is provided, and adhere to the required safeguards.

B. Safe work practices, as governed by this Safety Regulation, must always take precedence over expediency or short-cuts.

III. RESPONSIBILITIES:

A. Department Heads:

1. Each appointing authority, director, department head, agency head, elected official, and director or senior manager of agencies covered by the St. Louis Workers' Compensation Plan shall establish an approved safety program within their department, division or agency.

As part of the department, division or agency safety program, an Agency Safety Coordinator shall be appointed. While fulfilling their safety responsibilities, the Agency Safety Coordinator shall functionally report to the City Safety Manager.

Each department, division or agency safety program shall also include both a Safety Committee and an Accident Review Committee. The Safety Committee and the Accident Review Committee will be chaired by the Agency Safety Coordinator and will be staffed by employees, supervisors and managers.

Each department, division or agency must establish safety files to maintain documentation of training, employee qualifications and exposure records. These files must be available for inspection by both the Agency Safety Coordinator and the City Safety Manager.

2. Individuals responsible for safety operations within the departments, divisions or agencies, including both supervisors and the Agency Safety Coordinator, must be allotted sufficient time and resources to administer the agency safety program.

B. City Safety Manager:

The City Safety Manager will provide overall management control of the City's Safety and Health Policy and Procedures and shall approve department, division and agency safety programs. Additionally, the City Safety Manager will have the authority and responsibility to:

1. Establish City policies and procedures related to the occupational safety and health program.

2. Provide assistance to directors, commissioners, managers, supervisors and Agency Safety Coordina tors in implementation of safety and health policy and procedures.

3. Assist department, division and agency supervisors, and Agency Safety Coordinators in developing increased employee awareness of all occupational safety and health policies and procedures.

4. Provide assistance to Agency Safety Coordinators in all occupational safety and health related areas through training sessions, discussions, meetings, materials, investigations, and on-site visits.

5. Develop a statistical analysis, by department, of accident information. Prioritize problem areas and assist in developing remedial actions.

6. Direct safety and health audits as required by the Director of Personnel, the Mayor and the City Counselor's office.

7. Halt any City operation when it is determined that the operation poses a clear and significant danger to the health or welfare of the employees, citizens or visitors of the City of St. Louis.

8. Evaluate the performance of the Agency Safety Coordinator and provide the evaluation to the Coordinator's immediate supervisor for inclusion in the employee's annual evaluation.

C. Agency Safety Coordinator:

1. Develop and implement the department, division or agency safety program.

2. Maintain liaison with the City Safety Manager and other Agency Safety Coordinators within the City.

3. Advise the director, commissioner, managers and supervisors, as appropriate, concerning occupa tional safety and health related matters.

4. Assist in development of remedial solutions to identified occupational safety and health hazards.

5. Participate on the City Safety Committee and the City-wide Accident Review Committee.

6. Compile department information regarding safety programs, projects, accident reports and supervisor reports. Maintain database for review by the City Safety Manager.

7. Investigate reported or suspected safety and health hazards within the department, division or agency.

8. Submit a summary report of safety and health hazards to both the department head and the City Safety Manager.

9. Assist the department head in preparing recommended annual budgets regarding safety and health material, equipment and training.

D. Supervisors, Foremen:

1. Supervisors will provide job instruction, job safety instruction and instruction in department medical procedures to each new employee and any employees changing jobs.

It shall be the supervisors' responsibility to ensure that City employees will not be allowed to perform any task until that employee both understands, and can perform, the task safely.

2. Line and staff supervisors shall conduct a monthly safety training or informational meeting for all employees in their work unit. The monthly meeting shall cover general safety and health regulations and new safety and health policies, procedures and programs.

Additionally, all supervisors shall conduct a weekly safety training session for all employees. These meetings should be directed either to a topical subject pertaining to safe operations in the respective departments, or a topic as specifically prescribed by the City Safety Manager.

Alternative training cycles shall be approved by the City Safety Manager during the approval of the department safety and health plan. However, the alternative training must support the overall objectives of providing a safe and healthy work place.

a. It is recommended that all meetings should be conducted at the same time and day each week.

b. A training record, documenting each meeting, must be maintained within the department. This training record MUST include:

i. Topic

ii. Who presented the program

iii. Names of those in attendance

iv. Where meeting was held

v. Date and time

* Employee attendance at all work unit meetings is mandatory.

* The Agency Safety Coordinator will assist the supervisor in development and presentation of the safety meetings.

3. Supervisors, assisted by the Agency Safety Coordinator as required, must conduct an on-site investigation of each accident in their work unit.

4. Supervisors are responsible for maintaining a supply of all the required safety, health, and workers' compensation forms.

E. Employees:

1. Employees are required to learn and comply with all safety and health regulations and specific work practices as required by the City of St. Louis and the department where assigned.

2. Employees are required to attend all safety meetings as scheduled by their supervisor.

3. Employees must immediately report any of the following to their supervisor:

a. Accidents

b. Safety and health hazards

c. Violation of any safety and health regulation

d. Improper use of safety equipment

e. Defective equipment

4. All employees must perform their work with an understanding of the safety procedures of each assignment. If in doubt, employees should ask their immediate supervisor before beginning the assignment.

5. Every work assignment shall be performed with an emphasis on personal safety, the safety of fellow workers, and the safety of the general public while protecting the best interests of the City of St. Louis.

IV. Issuance and Implementation

This Administrative Regulation, which cancels and supersedes Administrative Regulation No. 98 issued January 28, 1991, becomes effective immediately upon signature of the Director of Personnel.

All department, division, and agency safety programs shall be implemented in accordance with the provisions of the City Safety Manual and this Administrative Regulation.

Any questions regarding this regulation should be referred to the City Safety Manager at 622-3563.

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