V.H. BSC Injury and Illness Prevention Program

V.H.I. GOAL

The BSC’s goal in establishing and implementing this Injury and Illness Prevention Program is to maintain a safe and healthy workplace and to comply with applicable laws and regulations governing workplace safety.

V.H.II. DUTIES OF HEALTH AND SAFETY DIRECTOR

The Executive Director shall serve as the Health and Safety Director and shall have the authority and responsibility to implement this program. His/her duties will include receiving and evaluating employee (Central & House Level) concerns regarding workplace safety, conducting inspections under this program, developing strategies for abating any hazards, implementing a safety training program, maintaining this program’s records, and implementing a system for communication of safety and health issues with the employees, and working with the Human Resources Committee to facilitate the execution of its duties under this program.

V.H.III. DUTIES OF THE HUMAN RESOURCES COMMITTEE

The Human Resources Committee, chaired by the Vice President of Internal Affairs, shall provide oversight for this Illness and Injury Prevention Program (IIPP) by:

1. Meeting at least monthly during the Fall and Spring contract periods;

2. Preparing and making available to the affected employees, written records of the safety and health issues discussed at committee meetings and maintained for review by Cal/OSHA upon request;

3. Reviewing results of periodic, scheduled IIPP worksite inspections;

4. Reviewing IIPP investigations of occupational accidents and causes of incidents resulting in occupational injury, occupational illness, or exposure to hazardous substances and, where appropriate, making recommendations for the prevention of future incidents;

5. Reviewing IIPP investigations of alleged hazardous conditions brought to the attention of any committee member.

When determined necessary by the committee, the committee may conduct its own inspection and investigation to assist in remedial solutions;

1. Submitting recommendations to assist in the evaluation of house level employee safety suggestions;

2. Providing assistance to the Director in implementing the IIPP; and

3. Upon request from Cal/OSHA, verifying abatement action taken by the BSC to abate citations issued by Cal/OSHA.

V.H.IV. EMPLOYEE RESPONSIBILITIES

All employees are responsible for utilizing safe work practices, for following all safety directives, policies, and procedures of the BSC, and for assisting in promoting a safe work environment.

A. As part of an employee’s regular evaluation, the employee will be evaluated on his or her compliance with safe work practices. The Director, or the Director’s designee, will perform this evaluation. Members of each residential unit will perform an evaluation through the Vote of Confidence or VOC process for house level employees.

B. Employees who make a significant contribution to the maintenance of a safe workplace, as determined by the Director, will receive a written acknowledgment which will be maintained in the employee’s personnel file or forwarded to members of their residential unit.

C. Employees who fail to follow safe work practices and/or procedures or who violate the BSC’s safety rules and directives will be subject to disciplinary action; first with an oral warning, secondly with a written warning, and finally with termination of employment with the BSC (or for house level employees: after the two warnings, a strong recommendation of termination of employment or impeachment with the BSC to the members of the residential unit. Also, the Safety Committee will assess fines to accompany any disciplinary action).

V.H.V. SAFETY REPORTS AND SAFETY SUGGESTIONS

A. All employees are encouraged to inform the Director of matters which the employee perceives to be a workplace hazard and/or potential workplace hazard. Employees are also encouraged to make safety suggestions and safety training suggestions. If an employee so wishes, s/he may anonymously deposit an “Employee Safety Information Form” in a “Safety Suggestion Envelope.” One of the envelopes is located in the office, near the door to the restroom and the other is located to the left of the “shop” door in the garage. For house level employees, the Director will establish a system whereby suggestions, including anonymous suggestions, may be made by house level employees.

B. Suggestions will be collected by the Director on a daily basis. The Director (or designees) must investigate each report of a hazard or potential hazard in accordance with section VI. House level employees may also make safety and safety training suggestions to any member of the Human Resources Committee. Any Human Resources Committee member receiving such a suggestion will promptly forward this suggestion to the Director.

C. NO EMPLOYEE WILL BE RETALIATED AGAINST FOR REPORTING HAZARDS OR POTENTIAL HAZARDS OR FOR MAKING SUGGESTIONS RELATED TO SAFETY.

D. Any directives issued as a result of the investigation shall be posted on the employee bulletin board. At the house level they will be disseminated to all house level employees of the respective residential unit, and to the house level employees of other residential units as necessary.

E. From time to time, the Director will conduct employee meetings to report actions taken concerning workplace safety, to provide additional guidance, or to hold general discussions on workplace safety issues.

G. All residential units will have a house level employee bulletin board for the express and sole purpose of posting

V.H.VI. IDENTIFICATION, EVALUATION, AND ABATEMENT OF WORKPLACE HAZARDS

A. The Director will schedule and conduct an overall inspection three times a year. This shall include:

1. A review of workplace injury and occupational illness reports for the past year,

2. A physical inspection of the work sites which shall include an observation of work practices and an inspection of equipment, machinery and safety devices,

3. Consultation with department heads and supervisors to assist in the identification of unsafe work practices, potentially dangerous conditions or equipment, and areas in which employees need safety training.

B. In addition to the inspections, the Director will conduct an investigation whenever any of the following occur:

1. The introduction of new substances, processes, procedures, or equipment that present a new safety and health hazard;

a. To accomplish this task, each department head and supervisor or house level employee is responsible for promptly reporting to the Director whenever a new substance (i.e. chemical or solvent), new work procedure or technique, or new equipment is introduced which may pose a safety risk. The department head and supervisor should use the designated form;

b. Each supervisor and/or department head or house level employee report should include an evaluation of the potential hazard posed, and any potential hazard (see Attachment B);

c. Based upon the information, the Director will conduct an investigation and issue any directive which may be necessary.

2. The Director becomes aware of a new or previously unrecognized hazard, either independently or by receipt of information from an employee, including receipt of an Employee Notification of Safety Hazard form;

3. Occurrence of an occupational injury, occupational illness, or near miss accident. Such investigation will include:

a. inspection of injury, accident, or illness site;

b. interview of victim;

c. interview of potential witnesses.

D. From time to time, the Director may conduct surprise inspections.

E. All investigations and findings will be fully documented on the Investigation form.

F. Along with each investigation, the Director will evaluate the severity of any hazard identified, and develop and implement a plan to abate the hazard and/or correct the unsafe work practice or procedure. Such steps may include immediate correction, the provision of employee training, repairing of equipment, cleaning of work areas, and posting any of warning notices. All such steps and the date completed should be documented on the work order. Severe and imminent hazards will be given priority.

G. When an imminent hazard exists which cannot be immediately abated without endangering employees and/or property, the Director shall remove all exposed personnel from the areas, except those necessary to correct the condition. Employees working to correct the condition will be provided with necessary safeguards and safety equipment. occupational safety and health related information as chosen by the Director.

V.H.VII. TRAINING PROGRAM

A. All employees will be trained on general workplace safety as well as on safety and health issues specific to each employee’s job;

1. The Director will consult with department heads and supervisors to determine training topics (including how to perform the job in a safe manner, how to run equipment safely, etc.);

2. Supervisors will be trained to familiarize themselves with safety and health hazards to which the employees under their direction may be exposed and how to avoid such risks.

B. All new employees, as part of their orientation will be trained on general workplace safety as well as the safety and health issues posed by their particular job.

C. All employees given a new job assignment, on which they have not previously received training, shall be provided with safety training with respect to such assignments (if the position is supervisory, such training shall include a familiarization with hazards and risks faced by the employees under his or her direction.).

D. Training will be provided whenever new substances, processes, procedures, or equipment are introduced which pose a new hazard.

E. Training will be provided whenever the Director becomes aware of a previously unrecognized hazard.

V.H.VIII. RECORD KEEPING

The Director (or designees) shall maintain each of the following records for at least three years:

A. All records of the steps taken to implement and maintain the program;

B. All records of inspections (including the date conducted, the person who performed the inspection, the unsafe conditions and work practices identified, the corrective action taken, and its date);

C. Documents reflecting the safety and health training received by each employee (including the employee’s name, training date, type of training, and identification of the trainer).