Road & Bridge
Safety Manual
INTRODUCTION
WELCOME!!! This manual was developed to assist county governments in committing its employees to SAFETY. It is our goal to provide a workplace for the employees of our county that is free of recognizable hazards and to eliminate the number of unsafe acts and conditions. We feel that there is no other important asset to our county than the safety of our employees and residents.
The suggestions and regulations within this manual are based upon the safest practices that individuals in our line of duty have followed for many years. Although county governments in Missouri are currently exempt from OSHA regulations, it is our intent to follow theseregulations. We see these as the minimum guidelines to follow to develop an effective safety program. Along with these regulations, we observe thatGOOD COMMON SENSE is also another priority to preventing unsafe acts and conditions. If everyone works together, our goals can be achieved.
To be safe, each person must have an “attitude” that diligently maintains a sense of urgency about the task at hand. One little slip at the wrong time can have disastrous consequences.
The guidelines in this manual are provided to help you keep that safe balance and develop a safe culture for yourself, your family and co-workers for the rest of your life. If you do not understand the proper safety procedure, see your supervisor. Do not guess what the proper procedure is.
This manual is intended to be a template for your county’s own personalized program. It will need to be modified to suit the particular size and needs of your entity. We would also recommend that you have thecompleted program reviewed by local counsel prior to implementation. The safety guidelines provided are considered the minimum suggestions for the particular situation. Your particular situation may require additional measures to insure adequate protection.
Let’s keep the workplace safe for you, co-workers and the public.
This manual is periodically revised and updated. The most current copy is availableas a download at the MAC Trust website.
THINK – SAFETY FIRST!!!
Date Implemented ______
SAFETY POLICY
PURPOSE
Every employee is a valuable asset and the personal safety and health of each is of vital concern. ______County recognizes the importance of a safe and healthy working environment and considers safety to be an integral part of the daily administration of county government.
POLICY
Safety will be given a high priority in the planning and operation of county activities in order to:
1.Eliminate employee hardships which result from occupational injuries and illnesses; and
2.Reduce ______financial burden of direct and indirect costs that result from unsafe work conditions and habits.
To promote and maintain safe practices and conditions, all Elected Officials and/or supervisors will:
1.Explain the County Safety Policy to your employees;
2.Strive to maintain safe and healthy working conditions;
3.Assure mechanical safeguards and personal protective equipment is available where it may be needed;
4.Maintain an active safety program, coordinated through ______, in which all members of the staff will participate in training and promote safety awareness among all employees;
5.Charge employees, as a condition of employment, with the responsibility of practicing safe work habits;
6.Measure employee practice of safety in the evaluation process;
7.Investigate each accident report promptly and correct any problems;
8.Establish, communicate and update site safety rules; and
9.Post this policy on the County bulletin boards.
In cooperation, employees will diligently;
1.Report all hazards and make suggestions to improve safety; and
2.Report any deficiency in safety compliance to their supervisor.
______
Presiding Commissioner
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Accident and Near Miss Reporting ......
Back Safety......
Bloodborne Pathogens ......
Boom Truck/Aerial Lift Operation ......
Compressed Gasses and Welding ......
Handling and Storage, General ......
Storage for Cylinders ......
General Welding and Cutting ......
Electric Welding ......
Gas Welding ......
Communications ......
Disciplinary Guidelines ......
Elevated Working Surfaces ......
Employee Responsibility and Conduct ......
Emergency Procedures ......
Fire Protection ......
Housekeeping ......
Tornado Procedure ......
Chemical, Biological or Bomb Threat ......
Emergency Response Agency Telephone Numbers......
Ergonomics ......
Excavations and Excavations ......
Excavation by Machine ......
Excavation by Hand ......
General Safety and Health Practices ......
Guidelines ......
Hazardous Materials and Communication (HAZCOM) ......
Introduction ......
Ladders, Scaffolds and Elevated Working Surfaces......
Machine/Equipment Operations......
Motor Vehicle Accident Reporting ......
Table of Contents - Cont’d.
Office Safety ......
Guidelines ......
Operation of Equipment and Tools ......
General Provisions ......
Use of Tools ......
Care of Tools ......
Compressed Air and Compressed Air Tools ......
Power Lawn Mowers, Power Lawn Edger’s, Tractor Type Mowers ......
Chain Saws and Weed Eaters ......
Grinding Operations ......
Personal Protective Equipment and Clothing ......
Eye Care ......
Fall Protection ......
Head Protection ......
Respirators ......
Employees’ Responsibilities ......
Types of Contaminants ......
When to Use Respirators ......
Rivers, Streams and Lakes ......
Supervisor Responsibility and Conduct ......
Vehicle Operation and Care ......
Machine/Equipment Operations ......
Weather - Exposure to Environmental Extremes ......
Heat ......
Cold ......
Worker’s Compensation ......
Provision for Safe Work Standard ......
Employee Responsibility and Conduct ......
Supervisor Responsibility ......
COMMUNICATION
Communication is an important safety tool. Whether it is a radio, phone or pager, abuse of any of these communication systems at the wrong time could increase the response time during an emergency. Unnecessary visiting and verbal vandalism (broadcasting radio programs) is strictly forbidden by county policy. Anyone engaging in these acts will be subject to disciplinary action including termination.
Some department two-way radios are equipped with Sheriff’s frequencies. If you happen to have these frequencies on the radio in the vehicle or equipment that you are operating or on a hand held unit and are not authorized to use or monitor these frequencies, it is imperative that you comply with these authorization limits. Call numbers have been assigned to authorized personnel in accordance with each department’s procedures.
If an emergency occurs:
1.Departments with radio communication and fieldoperators.
a.Contact radio dispatcher by radio or phone.
b.If radio dispatcher is not on duty, contact appropriate emergency response organizations listed on the next two pages and/or your supervisor immediately.
c.If not available, call 911 and report emergency.
2.Departments with telephone communication only.
a.Call 911 and report emergency. Depending on circumstances, this could be your first call. Use your own judgm.0ent.
b.Contact appropriate emergency response agency list
on the next two pages, if necessary.
c.Notify your supervisor immediately.
3.All departments. If the situation is life threatening, call 911 or department dispatcher, whichever is faster and appropriate.
When calling 911 or any emergency phone number, always stay on the line until the emergency dispatcher hangs up.
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Sample
EMERGENCY RESPONSE AGENCY TELEPHONE NUMBERS
USE 911 FOR ALL EMERGENCIES
(List the appropriate numbers for your county)
FIRE DEPARTMENT
POLICE DEPARTMENT
HIGHWAY PATROL
SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT
PUBLIC WORKS - ROAD AND BRIDGE DIVISION
PARKS/SHERIFF VEHICLE SERVICE CENTER
PUBLIC WORKS ADMINISTRATION OFFICES
COUNTY SAFETY AND HEALTH OFFICER
DESIGNATED MEDICAL FACILITIES:
OTHER EMERGENCY TELEPHONE NUMBERS:
COUNTY COMMISSION
POISON CONTROL CENTER ...... 816-234-3434
or 1-800-366-8888
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MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT REPORTING
A.First report the accident to the local law enforcement agency and your supervisor immediately. If on private property call the sheriff and/or your supervisor.
B.Fill out all forms and reports in the packet entitled, “In Case of Accident” located in the glove compartment.
C.With your supervisor’s assistance, contact the department person responsible for notifying the county’s auto liability insurance company and complete all accident reports.
D.Complete each item of the accident report form. This form should be checked by your supervisor and then sent to the auto insurance company through regular department procedures.
E.Forward copies of all information to the County Clerk and the Safety Officer.
F.Be sure to include all the information required:
1.The year, make, model, and owner of the vehicle.
2.The last four digits of the county vehicle serial
number and the county license plate number, if applicable.
Note:The County’s auto insurance is for the protection of the county and is not a replacement for personal automobile insurance. Employees should be instructed to also contact their own insurance company in the event they are using their personal vehicles.
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DISCIPLINARY GUIDELINES
The purpose of this section, as is the purpose of the entire Safety and Health Policy, is to save lives, eliminate injuries, and stop property damage. Safety rules are designed to provide a safe and secure work place for every individual. Violation of safe work procedures when performing any given task or responsibility makes it necessary to provide a means of enforcement if compliance is not voluntary.
Disciplinary guidelines will be the responsibility of the department and serve to inform all employees that they will be held accountable for all unsafe acts and all preventable accidents. It should be kept in mind that the nature or severity of an unsafe act could demand a variance from these guidelines. Disciplinary guidelines shall conform to the ______County Personnel Practices.
Definition: A preventable accident is one in which the employee fails to do everything he/she could reasonably be expected to do to prevent it.
The accident shall be determined preventable or not by a method approved by each department director.
Personal counseling, verbal or written warning, written reprimand, suspension, demotion or termination will be determined by the Elected Office holder in conjunction with the county’s established personnel policies and procedures.
ACCIDENT AND NEAR MISS REPORTING
A.Report accidents or near miss accidents to your supervisor.
B.With your supervisor’s assistance, complete the appropriate accident report.
C.Send copies of this report to the County Clerk and County Commission.
Failure to report a near miss is a violation of the Safety and Health Policy, which is a condition of employment. In addition, failure to report a near miss reduces the probability of removal of a hazardous condition or practice.
SAFETY
In each facet of our lives, there are risks. Some of the things we do are more risky than others. This is called the level of risk. Our goal must be to reduce the level of risk as much as possible during the performance of any given task, whether at work, home or play, thus insuring a higher quality of life for our families, our co-workers and ourselves. Safety consciousness requires rigid adherence to good safety practices and guidelines.
This guide will provide you with many of the basic safety and health ideas to reduce the possibility of work-related injuries or illness. It is the responsibility of each individual employee to report all injuries, illnesses, near misses, and hazardous conditions to their supervisor immediately. Only then can we reach the goal of improving the quality of life for all ______County employees.
In addition to this guide, there are other standards and regulations published by ______County and your department, which should serve as supplemental information to this policy and is considered a part of this policy. There are many other guidelines, standards and regulations mandated by state and federal agencies which must be followed to provide the “standard of care” necessary to prevent illnesses and injuries and reduce the possibility of individual and county liability.
You are charged with the responsibility of reading and understanding not only the items in this guide but also all other safety publications and operators’ manuals pertaining to your work situation.
PROVISION FOR SAFE WORK STANDARDS
Never try to perform any job in an unsafe manner, even if it might save time and trouble. If you get hurt by violating established safe work procedures, you fail yourself and the county. Violations of the Safety and Health Policy will be just cause for disciplinary action whether or not an accident occurs. Actions to be taken are set forth starting on page __ of this guide.
WORKERS’ COMPENSATION
If you are injured, no matter how slight, you must report this injury to your supervisor immediately. Failure to do so could jeopardize your workers’ compensation claim. The county has made arrangements with doctors and clinics experienced in industrial injuries and health- related matters. You will be required to use one of these facilities for non-life-threatening incidences. Emergency medical services and hospital emergency rooms located closest to the area of the incident should handle life-threatening incidents.
The State of Missouri has a comprehensive workers’ compensation law. It entitles you to medical treatment at no cost to employees as well as reimbursement for a portion of your salary
if said injury meets time requirements. For additional information on workers’ compensation, contact your supervisor, county clerk or the county benefits coordinator.
If you are injured:
1.No matter how slight the injury, report all injuries immediately to your supervisor.
2.In case of minor injury:
a.Notify your supervisor and receive immediatefirst aid attention.
b.Report back to work as directed by yoursupervisor.
c.Cooperate in completing all necessary worker’s compensation/accident injury reports and forms.
3.In cases where further medical treatment is required:
a.You will be taken to one of our clinics or an emergency room at a hospital.
b.After treatment:
-If released for work, you need to bring your supervisor a signed “return to work” form from your doctor.
-If not released for work, call your supervisor after receiving treatment and give expected date of return along with other requested information. Make sure your supervisor receives the signed authorization report from the doctor or hospital.
-Cooperate and complete all necessary workers’
compensation forms.
-Keep all scheduled medical appointments.
-Keep your supervisor informed of your work status after each medical visit.
-Return to work on date authorized by the physician and give your supervisor the signed release. If the physician recommends restricted duty, an agreement between you and your supervisor as to what duties you may perform must be established. Each department has their own policy on restricted duty requests.
-Bring medical bills that you receive to your supervisor who will, in turn, send them to the Benefits Coordinator.
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-For your protection and the County’s, you may be requested to submit to drug/alcohol tests if circumstances warrant.
Workers’ compensation is administered through the Missouri Associationof Counties Trust by an outside administrator. It is very important that you give full details of your injury and recovery progress if you are contacted by the Workers’ Compensation Administrator or representatives of the MAC Trust.
EMPLOYEE RESPONSIBILITY AND CONDUCT
Duty assignment: All safety activities and personnel assignments required herein shall be considered an official duty and an integral part of satisfactory employee performance.
A.All employees shall know and abide by all safety rules and safe work procedures located in the "Supervisor's Safety Procedure Manual." This includes any special safe work procedures published in equipment owner/operator's manuals. Failure to perform in accordance to all guidelines, policies and procedures will result in the use of department disciplinary action.
B.All employees shall be consciously aware of the hazards of their jobs, avoid unsafe acts, and warn others seen performing unsafe acts.
C.All injuries and illnesses shall be reported to your supervisor immediately. Failure to report accidents or injuries may jeopardize a workers’ compensation claim.
D.Unsafe conditions shall be reported to your supervisor.
E.Report all near misses to your supervisor. A near miss is still considered an accident (unplanned event or hazardous condition/practice), even though no damage or injury occurred.
F.Be alert to those around you. An unsafe act could endanger others as well as yourself.
G.Keep all assigned safety equipment readily available, clean, and in good condition.
H.Report all missing or defective safety equipment immediately to the supervisor.
I.Request from your supervisor copies of or clarification of all applicable special safety policies and procedures.
J.Know the location of and how to read and use all Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) on chemicals you use.
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SUPERVISOR RESPONSIBILITY AND CONDUCT
Duty assignment: All safety and health activities and personnel assignments required herein shall be considered an official duty and an integral part of satisfactory supervisory performance. Non-compliance could lead to prosecution under civil law or department disciplinary guidelines.
A.Supervisors/work leaders shall be responsible for the instruction and enforcement of all safe work practices.
B.This government agency sets a high standard of care for safety and health in the work place. Management shall be responsible for appropriate staff attendance at designated training classes.
C.Supervisors/work leaders should ensure that all tools and equipment used by personnel within his/her work group are properly maintained. Dangerous equipment shall be removed from service until it is repaired or replaced.
D.Supervisors/work leaders shall review all equipment combinations for safety compatibility; e.g., trailers towed by proper vehicles (size, light and brake hookup, etc.), attachments designed for the equipment used.
E.Supervisors/work leaders must be responsible for control of their work areas by removing hazards when possible. Those hazards that cannot be removed must be neutralized as much as possible by using known safeguards, such as respirators in dusty areas, cones, barricades, and vehicle safety belts.
F.Working Around Traffic:
1.Supervisors/work leaders shall be responsible for the proper control of traffic through work zones in accordance with the guidelines set forth in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). This includes worker safety vests, signing, warning devices, etc.