General
Safety
Resource Handbook
Safety Practices and injury prevention handbook
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. / SAFETY AND HEALTH IN THE WORKPLACE / 1A. / SAFETY POLICY / 1
B. / SAFETY COMMITTEE / 1
C. / INJURY AND ILLNESS PREVENTION PROGRAM / 2
D. / COLLEGE PROCEDURES FOR WORK-RELATED INJURIES / 2-4
E. / REPORTING OF POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS / 4
F. / WARNING AND/OR DISCIPLINARY ACTION / 4
II. / GENERAL SAFETY PRACTICES FOR ALL DEPARTMENTS / 5-6
A. / MATERIAL HANDLING/LIFTING AND / 6-7
HOW TO LIFT AND SAVE YOUR BACK
B. / FIRE PREVENTION / 7-8
C. / ELECTRICAL / 8
D. / HAND TOOLS / 8-9
E. / MACHINES / 9
III. / HAZARD COMMUNICATION PROGRAM / 9
IV. / DISTRICT VEHICLES / 10
V. / BLOODBORNE PATHOGENS PROGRAM
FIRST AID / 10
VI. / 10
SELF-INSURED PROGRAM FOR EMPLOYEES (SIPE)
SIPE is a Joint Powers Agency (JPA) comprised of school districts in Santa Barbara County, the Office of the County Superintendent of Schools, and the Allan Hancock Joint Community College District. The JPA provides workers’ compensation, claim and insurance coverage, as well as safety training and compliance inspections for member districts. The SIPE Board of Directors is committed to providing a safe working environment for employees.
THE IMPORTANCE OF SAFETY
Welcome to Allan Hancock College. You will have different jobs here at the college and one of those jobs is to ensure that you and your co-workers follow safe work practices. Regardless of your job, there is always the possibility that an on-the-job accident could result in a personal injury. For this reason Allan Hancock College, through the Self-Insurance Program for Employees (SIPE), has established an Accident, Injury, and Illness Prevention Program, a planned series of common-sense guidelines and requirements for the protection of every employee.
Consistent with federal, state and local safety codes and regulations, SIPE works with Allan Hancock College to maintain a safe workplace for employees. THIS DOES NOT GUARANTEE FREEDOM FROM INJURY. The most important preventive measure lies in the ability of all employees to perform their jobs in the safest possible manner.
It is important that not only employers, but also employees recognize their legal as well as ethical obligation to comply with occupational safety and health standards. This includes following all rules, regulations, and orders that apply to their own actions and conduct in the performance of their specific job assignments.
With your on-going involvement, Allan Hancock College will continue to promote safety in the workplace. You have a stake in this venture because it is all about your safety and protection. Safety is a responsibility you share with your fellow employees, and it can’t be left to someone else.
The purpose of this book is to acquaint you with the general safety rules and policies of Allan Hancock College. You are responsible for knowing and following these measures on a daily basis.
I. SAFETY & HEALTH IN THE WORKPLACE
A. SAFETY POLICY
People are our most important resource and their safety is one of our principle responsibilities. Safety must be an integral part of all operations at Allan Hancock College. Our goal is to maintain our workplace in a clean and safe condition. All of us must practice the following procedures in order to accomplish this goal:
1. use proper mechanical safeguards and personal protective equipment;
2. require that everyone observe established safety regulations and practices;
3. provide adequate medical and first aid supplies;
4. maintain an on-going educational program to promote personal safety awareness, both on and off the job;
5. maintain an aggressive program of loss prevention in which all members of management will participate.
We must be so successful in our efforts that preventing accidents and injuries becomes routine.
B. SAFETY COMMITTEE
The Allan Hancock College Safety Committee is made up of administrative, classified, and faculty staff members as well as SIPE and Associated Student Body Government representatives. The list of the current committee members is available in the safety office in Administrative Services, building B. The committee meets no less than four times each school year to review safety practices, conduct site inspections, and disseminate information to employees about safety, health, and avoidance of accidents. The goal of the committee is to help provide the safest work environment possible for Allan Hancock College staff and students. Safety recommendations or safety problems should first be brought to the attention of your dean, director, supervisor, or department head, and then to the Safety Committee for follow-up action.
C. INJURY AND ILLNESS PREVENTION PROGRAM
Allan Hancock College is committed to providing a safe working environment. The success of our overall safety program is dependent upon the full cooperation and participation of every employee of the district. Our Injury and Illness Prevention Program will be explained to you in detail. Your individual responsibilities are to:
1. abide by the program's safety rules and standards of conduct;
2. be informed about how to conduct your job in a safe and proper manner;
3. report immediately to your dean, director, or supervisor an accident or injury that occurs or any unsafe condition you observe.
Other major aspects of the Injury and Illness Prevention Program which you should be aware of
are how to:
1. identify any hazards that may exist in your work area;
2. correct recognized hazards in order to prevent injury and illness before they happen;
3. practice safe work techniques, fire protection techniques, emergency response procedures, hazardous substance safety, and other safety procedures important to your job assignment;
4. communicate safety matters through safety meetings, the Safety Committee, the safety newsletter and the "Hazard/Safety Suggestion Form." Allan Hancock College has developed an Employee Right-to-Know/Hazard Communication Program to inform you of chemical hazards and their handling and use. Allan Hancock College's Injury and Illness Prevention Program and the Employee Right-to-Know Program were designed for your benefit.
We need your help to make these programs work! Here are several ways you can help:
1. pay attention to your safety training and apply your safety knowledge on the job;
2. be alert for hazards in the workplace and report them if observed;
3. take responsibility for workplace health and safety - your own and that of your coworkers;
4. be willing to ask questions of your supervisor - don't risk health and safety out of embarrassment;
5. Be safety-conscious all day, every day, both on and off the job.
D. COLLEGE PROCEDURES FOR WORK-RELATED INJURIES
The following procedures must be followed for Allan Hancock College employees regarding work-related injuries:
1. SERIOUS INJURY - Emergency injuries of a life endangering or disabling nature should be handled by emergency measures.
A. Dial 3-9-1-1 for Santa Maria Campus Allan Hancock College Police Department OR
B. Dial 5-9-1-1 for Lompoc Valley Center Allan Hancock College Police Department.
¨ identify yourself and your location
¨ explain the type of emergency
¨ stay on telephone with dispatcher until told to hang up
¨ stay calm
¨ appropriate help will be sent - the hospitals in the Santa Maria and Lompoc areas are aware of our workers' compensation program.
OR
2. If the injury occurs at a time when the Central Coast Industrial Care is not open, go to the nearest emergency medical facility. If Allan Hancock College Police are not available, dial 9-1-1 and proceed as above. Indicate that you are from Allan Hancock College and that you were injured on the job. If possible, obtain proper documents from the Human Resources office prior to receiving medical attention. Report all work-related injuries to your immediate supervisor AND the Human Resources office within 24 hours of the incident.
ALL OTHER WORK-RELATED INJURIES:
A. Report injury immediately to your supervisor AND the Human Resources office.
B. Go to the Human Resources office. You will be provided with the "employee's claim for workers' compensation benefits" forms to complete.
C. You may be sent to Industrial Medical Group for diagnosis and treatment of the injury.
Central Coast Industrial Care
340 E. Betteravia
Santa Maria, CA 93455
(805) 614-9000
Hours: 08:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. - Monday through Friday
9:00 am – 4:30pm Saturdays
ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS:
· Human Resources staff will provide you with the Employee's Claim for Workers' Compensation Benefits form to complete. Completed forms are to be returned to the Human Resources office.
· Your supervisor will complete a "Supervisor's Report of Industrial Injury/Illness" report and return it to the Human Resources office.
· All injuries occurring after normal business hours must be reported to the Human Resources office as soon as possible on the next regular workday (8:00 a.m.).
· Upon reporting to Human Resources and after completion of the proper documents, you may be sent to the Industrial Medical Group with a medical treatment authorization slip for diagnosis and treatment. Human Resources staff will call Industrial Medical Group to notify them of your arrival.
· If you were instructed to go directly to Industrial Medical Group, indicate that you are from Allan Hancock College and that you were injured on the job. The clinic will know the procedure to follow.
· You must return to the Human Resources office after the medical treatment/examination. You must also take a copy of the physician's statement to the Human Resources office.
· If the injury occurs at a time when the Industrial Medical Group is not open, you may go to the nearest emergency medical facility. Indicate that you are from Allan Hancock College and that you were injured on the job. If possible, obtain proper documents from the Human Resources office prior to receiving medical attention. Again, notify the Human Resources office as soon as possible, but within 24 hours in order to process your work-related injury/illness properly.
Return to Work Authorization
When you are authorized to return to work, take your work authorization statement from the Central Coast Industrial Care, your personal physician, or other authorized medical authority to the Human Resources office. This should be done before or on the day you return to work. As a condition of returning to work, the employee must have a medical release by the physician. If your work location is the Lompoc, Solvang, or Vandenberg AFB Center, call the Human Resources office your first day back and report your return. Send or fax the authorization to Human Resources.
No matter how little or how much time you missed from work due to a job-related injury, you must complete the normal absence report form. Workers' Compensation correspondence, bills, or questions about a filed claim related to job-related injuries or illness should be sent to:
Workers' Compensation Administrators
265 E. Donovan
Santa Maria, CA 93454
Phone (805) 922-9157
Fax (805) 349-2816
E. REPORTING OF POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS/DANGEROUS CONDITIONS
AND SAFETY SUGGESTIONS
When you or another employee hears about or sees a condition or circumstance which may prove to be a safety hazard to themselves, co-workers, or students, you or the employee must report the situation or condition. Depending on the potential severity of the situation or condition, employees shall:
1. Notify (either in person or by phone) your supervisor or the district safety coordinator.
2. Follow-up the verbal notification with a written notice to the district Safety Committee. Complete a Hazard/Safety Suggestion form (SIPE Form 2-588) available from your supervisor. Forms can also be obtained from the college Health Services office, the AHC Police Department, Human Resources, or the staff dining room.
3. Hazards may also be reported anonymously if you feel more comfortable. Forms are available in the staff dining room on the Santa Maria campus along with a drop box to submit anonymously. The reporting of hazardous conditions is commendable and the district accepts such reports with thanks. You should not fear reprisal.
F. WARNING AND/OR DISCIPLINARY ACTION
It is the responsibility of the administration, faculty, and support staff to work together in order to create a safe working environment. However, if it becomes apparent that an individual is being overly careless or showing disregard for safety procedures which could cause potential harm to him or herself or others, the following will occur:
1. An investigation of an incident will be conducted (whether an injury resulted or not) to
determine if:
A. an employee had reasonable knowledge of a hazardous condition or situation and did not report it;
B. careless actions of an employee contributed to his or her own injury, or the injury of another, or created a potentially hazardous condition or situation; and
C. employee disregard of safety/health practices resulted in an injury to him or herself or to another or created a hazardous condition or situation.
2. After the investigation one of the following actions, depending upon the frequency and/or
severity of the safety violation(s), may be recommended:
A. verbal counseling and review of safety rules and procedures (documented in the employee's personnel file);
B. a written warning which must outline the nature of the offense and necessary corrective action (documented in the employee's personnel file);
C. suspension without pay (may be used in conjunction with #1 and/or #2 above or as a separate and distinct disciplinary action resulting from a serious violation);
D. termination (may be used in conjunction with #1, #2, and/or #3 above or as a separate and distinct disciplinary action resulting from a serious violation).
Disciplinary actions will be related to the severity of the situation and will follow the provisions as set forth in the Classified or Faculty Employee Contract, Board Policy 5920, and the certificated dismissal process as set forth in Ed. Code 87732 Et Seq.
II. SAFETY PRACTICES
A. GENERAL SAFETY PRACTICES FOR ALL DEPARTMENTS
1. Learn the location of all exits and the correct operation of emergency equipment so that you may act quickly and without confusion in cases of emergency.
2. Do not try to lift or push an object that is too heavy for you. Ask for help when you need it. Use care when lifting objects. See pages 5 and 6 for proper lifting techniques.