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To: Mayor Hicks and City Councilmembers
From: Melanie Mesko Lee
Re: Safety Guidelines Updates
Date: November 25, 2008
Council Action Reauested:
.Approve the changes to the City Safety Guidelines as presented.
I3ack~round Information:
Over the last few months, the City's. Safety Committee leas been revie~Ting the City's Safety Guidelines, which were
last updated in 2004. The guidelines are part`of the City's "A Workplace Accident at;d Ifijury Reduction (AWAIR)
program. The information contained in the b ideli2~es are far alI City departments; specific safety policies maybe in
place for specific departments or specific positions.
Attached you will find a copy of the guidelines recommended by the Safety Committee to be adopted. If approved by
the City Council updated guidelines will be distributed to staff. Please let me know if you have atiy questions.
amity of Hastings • 101 Fourth Street East • Hastings, MN 55033-1955 • p:651-480-2350 • f:651-437-7082 • www.ci.hastings.mn.us
City of Hastings
Safety
Guidelines
Produced by
Hastings Safety Committee
Adopted: 2004
Revised: November, 2008
Safety Guidelines
Table of Contents
1) Introduction .................................................................................................•---................................... 1
2) Safety Committee Membership :.......................................................--•--...........................----............ 1
3) Functional Responsibilities ............................................................................................................... 1
a) Employees ....................................................................................................................................... 1
b) Supervisors and Department Heads ...................................•---------.......................----.................... 1
c) Hastings Safety Committee.......-----• .............................................................................................. 2
3) Injuries & First Aid Kits ............................................................................................................... 2
4) Fire Extinguishers ...............................................................................................•---...................... 2
5) Vehicle/Equipment Operation ...................................................................................................... 2
6) Maintenance of Tools, Equipment, &Workplace ...................................................................... 3
7) Personal Protective Equipment ............................•---.......-----........................................................ 3
8) Use of Tools &Equipment ....................................................................................................•---.... 4
4} Compliance ..................................................................................................................................... 4
1) Introduction
These Safety Guidelines are a part of the City of Hastings' A Workplace Accident and Injury
Reduction (A.W.A.I.R.) program.
It is the policy of the City of Hastings to strive for the highest safety standards for its employees.
Safety does not occur by chance. It is the result of careful attention to our work by all those involved.
Managers, supervisors, and employees all share the responsibility of maintaining a safe workplace.
The City's safety guidelines, and subsequent training, are developed with the intent to comply with
applicable State and Federal OSHA regulations. Regard for the safety of all employees, the general
public, and contractors in or on the facilities, grounds and buildings, is of great importance to the City
of Hastings.
2) Safety Committee Membership:
Administration Dave Osberg Melanie Mesko Lee
Building & Code Ron Langer
Facility Maintenance Kurt Stoudt
Fire Chuck Paulson
Parks Kevin Smith Cory Likes
Police Mike McMenomy
Public Works John Zgoda Brandon Schloegel
Doug Weber
3) Functional Responsibilities
a) Employees
are responsible for:
i) Complying with the rules and regulations in the City Safety Manual as well as specific
department policies and practices.
ii) Acting with care and consideration for the safety of themselves and others.
iii) Reporting all job-related injuries and accidents to supervisory personnel, and by
completing the First Reports of Injury (FROI}.
iv) Addressing and reporting near-miss and potentially unsafe conditions.
v) Alerting supervisor to needed improvements for safe working conditions and equipment
and suggesting changes.
vi} Properly using and maintaining safety equipment.
vii) Stopping work if it is reasonably perceived to be unsafe to continue to work.
b) Supervisors and Department Heads
are responsible for:
i) Preparing and communicating specific departmental safety rules and expectations to
supplement the City's Safety Manual and overall safety objectives.
ii) Instructing all employees, including seasonal staff on the safe and proper manner of
operating equipment. Only trained staff may operate equipment. Documentation of
training will be retained by each department, indicating at a minimum that date training
was provided and by whom, and the employee's name who received the training. All
documentation must be retained by the department, and maybe forwarded for inclusion
in the employee's personnel file.
iii) Conducting regular safety training programs.
iv) Ensuring that department equipment is properly maintained or promptly removed from
service and repaired as appropriate.
City of Hastings Safety Guidelines
Page }
v) Promptly reporting all work-related accidents, injuries or illnesses and ensuring that
proper medical treatment is obtained.
vi) Departments have the discretion whether to allow headphones to be worn during
operation of equipment.
c) Hastings Safety Committee
will be responsible for
i) Ensuring diverse representation of City staff, including supervisory and non-supervisory
staff, and all departments on the Safety Committee
ii) Preparing guidelines for an effective City safety program.
iii} Conducting periodic inspections of City facilities for safety related reviews.
iv) Reviewing with departments, as requested, on compliance or other safety related issues
for compliance with safety codes, laws, and requirements.
v) Coordinating the overall administration of a City safety program.
vi) Maintaining knowledge about OSHA regulations to encourage and support compliance.
vii) Reviewing summaries ofwork-related accidents to reduce future exposure and potential
hazards.
viii) Coordinating training opportunities and, with outside sources, providing safety
inspections and resources as needed.
3) Injuries & First Aid Kits
a} All City vehicles and facilities will be equipped with a standard first aid kit and cone-way
valve pocket mask, at a minimum.
b) Employees are responsible for knowing the location of first aid kit(s) at their worksite.
c) If an employee uses supplies from a first aid kit, they are responsible for ensuring that the kit is
properly restocked in a timely manner.
d) Employees are expected to obtain proper medical treatment if necessary, including calling 911.
A supervisor must be immediately notified in case of an employee injury.
e) Employees are expected to use first aid supplies appropriately.
f) Each department will regularly inspect and restock department first aid kits.
4) Fire Extinguishers
a} Employees are responsible for knowing the location of fire extinguisher(s), fire alarms, pull
stations, and alarm panels (where they exist) at their worksite.
b) The City will provide regular employee training on the proper use of a fire extinguisher.
c) Employees are responsible for reporting situations and subsequent use of any fire extinguisher
immediately.
d) Fire extinguishers should be stored in an easily accessible location, with unobstructed access.
e) Employees will be trained in the eg neral principles of fire extinguisher use and the hazards
involved with incipient stage fire fi tin upon hire and annually thereafter.
f) Fire alarm access panels shall be kept unobstructed and locked with keys kept in a Knox Box.
g) Employees are prohibited from attempting to reset or silence an activated fire alarm system.
h) Each department will visually inspect all fire extinguishers monthly and thoroughly checked by
a reputable service company annually to insure operability.
5) Vehicle/Equipment Operation
a) Employees are responsible for safely operating vehicles and equipment in compliance with all
traffic rules and regulations.
b) Employees must wear seatbelts.
c) Employees driving slow moving vehicles on public streets must have an easily identifiable
"Slow Moving Vehicle" sign and operating safety flashers. Drivers are expected to use
appropriate hand signals and steer to the right of the street.
City of Hastings Safety Guidelines
Page 2
d) Employees are responsible for conducting a visual check of City vehicles and equipment before
use and to be certain it can be safely moved. This check shall include but not necessarily be
limited to lights, brakes (both emergency and regular), horn, tires (for wear and pressure) and
turn signals.
e) City vehicles shall be parked in a safe manner.
f) When refueling, employees must turn off the vehicle/equipment, stand by the fueling nozzle,
and should not use cell phones.
g) City vehicles shall not be allowed to idle in closed areas or structures.
h) Employees are responsible for removing keys and appropriately securing City
vehicles/equipment when not being used or when parked.
i) Wheel Chalks shall be placed under tires (downhill) of vehicles that are so equipped.
6) Maintenance of Tools, Equipment, & Workplace
a} All employees have a responsibility to ensure that aisles, passageways, stairs, etc. remain free
from obstructions, spills or other hazardous conditions.
b) Employees are expected to become familiar with all exits from their worksite.
c) Parked vehicles, equipment or other items must not block paths of external exits. If possible,
three-feet should be left between parked vehicles/equipment.
d) Employees shall report any burned out bulbs, dangerous floor surfaces, etc. to their supervisor
or facility maintenance staff.
e) Employees are responsible for maintaining a clean and safe work area. At the end of each
workday, tools, supplies and equipment should be cleaned and put away; floors should be
cleaned and garbage removed.
f) Floors should be kept clean and dry condition to avoid slips and falls. Spills should be
immediately cleaned up.
g) Any item undergoing long-term repair work shall be stored in an area where it is out of the
way, not likely to cause injury or restrict employee access.
h) Flammable materials and liquids should be stored in an appropriate flammable liquids cabinet,
away from spray booths, welding operations, motor vehicles, spark producing operations or
other places where they could reasonably cause a hazard. Oily rags shall be disposed of in
appropriate safety containers.
i) Waste containers should be emptied at least once a day, and lids replaced if applicable.
j) Employees are responsible for reporting evidence of rodents or insects within or around the
workplace immediately.
k) Employees are expected to clean up after themselves and keep workspaces and lunch break
rooms clean and tidy.
1) Items are to be stored to minimize problems with accessibility, collapse, or danger from fire.
m) Combustible materials (wood, paper, etc.) should not be piled or stored within twenty-five (25)
feet of the exterior of a building or structure.
n) Employees are responsible for reporting potentially dangerous storage issues to their
supervisor.
o) Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) shall be kept in MSD books for ail chemicals and
materials that are applicable in compliance with OSHA regulations. There will be two MSD
Books kept within each facility; one book in the office of the designated staff and the second
book as close as possible to the chemical storage area without being in the same room.
7) Personal Protective Equipment
a) The City will provide appropriate personal protective equipment to employees. Employees are
required to wear the appropriate PPE as directed by City, department, or OSHA regulations and
policies.
b) Appropriate protective may include aprons, gloves, eye protection, ear protection, and face
masks, respirators, hard hats, footwear, vests, toe/shin protection.
City of Hastings Safety Guidelines
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c) Equipment must be inspected before being worn. Unsafe and/or hazardous equipment shall not
be worn and shall be reported immediately to a supervisor for repair or replacement.
8) Use of Tools & Equipment
General Rules:
a) The City will provide safe tools/equipment for use by employees.
b) Employees are responsible visually inspecting and safely using tools/equipment. Unsafe
tools/equipment should be removed from service and reported to a supervisor immediately for
repair or replacement.
c) Tools/equipment are to be used only for the jobs for which they are designed.
d) Equipment should be properly grounded before use.
e) Employees are prohibited from altering or removing machine guards or safety devices.
f) Equipment marked "out of service" or "defective equipment" is not fit for use.
g) Equipment/machine must be marked as "locked out" (i.e. Incapable of being started) before any
repairs are begun. While being repaired, the machine/equipment must be tagged on or near the
start mechanism with a "Do Not Start" tag. If possible, a padlock should be used, with the key
available only to the repairperson.
h) All tools/equipment should be cleaned and put away after each use.
4) Compliance
Employees are responsible for the safe and proper use of equipment and tools assigned to them.
Failure to comply with City, departmental, state or federal safety procedures may result in discipline.
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