Employee Handbook

Section 8 — Safety and Wellness

Due to the large number of activities in progress at one time, the varied nature of the work, and various locations of such activities, the City established a Safety Supervisor Project Team to develop and administer the City’s safety program, as well as resolve safety-related issues. Employees may address the Safety Supervisor Project Team through their representative or in writing by submitting a Safety Condition Communication Form.

See also Safety Manual - Safety Condition Communication Form.

A representative of the Human Resources Department will chair the Safety Supervisor Project Team

The Safety Supervisor Project Team is responsible for creating and maintaining a high level of safety awareness among all City employees. To achieve this goal, the committee will perform the following activities:

1. Assemble on a regular basis to conduct meetings.

2. Review accident, injury, and near miss reports and discuss corrective action when needed. Assist with workplace investigations when needed.

3. Direct and monitor department training and safety meetings.

4. Discuss and report on unfinished business from previous meetings.

5. Discuss new business.

6. Maintain appropriate records of activities.

7. Conduct and record department requierd OSHA training.

8. Assist with updates to department Lockout/Tagout Manual and Procedures and Confined Space procedures.

9. Ensure that all department facilities complete the Severe Weather and Fire drills.

10. Assist with udpates to department facility maps as needed.

11. Assist with promotion, planning, and implementation of safety programs and events.

12. Communicate safety initiatives, programs, and updates at department meetings.

Safety Supervisor Project Team Guidelines

Guidelines are established to provide a representative, orderly, and systematic approach to analyzing employee safety issues and making recommendations toward the resolution of identified problems. The Safety Supervisor Project Team shall normally function within the following general areas of responsibility, although it need not be bound solely to such areas of responsibility:

1. The project team shall address matters of immediate importance such as unsafe working conditions, emergency activities, Workplace accidents and illnesses, and other matters that the project team may reasonably deem to fall within the scope of employee safety.

2. Safety Supervisor Project Team members shall attempt to gain expertise in the area of Occupational Safety and Health. Such educational activities may be in the form of research, inspection, lectures, demonstrations or any other form that would be considered advantageous.

3. The project team shall take an active role in implementing the safety program for the City to ensure the City achieves and maintains compliance with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards for the state of Iowa. The project team shall act as liaison for individual employees with regard to safety matters and formulate and execute the necessary action to promote a safe working environment.

Safety Supervisor Project Team Membership

The Safety Supervisor Project Team shall have managerial members representing each department. Department directors shall select their individual department’s representatives and alternates.  

Safety Supervisor Project Team Member Responsibilities

The following steps outline the responsibilities inherent in a Safety Supervisor Project Team member position:

1. A member of the Human Resources Department shall serve as the Safety Supervisor Project Team Chairperson. The chairperson shall preside at all Safety Supervisor Project Team meetings and decide all points of order and procedure. Absent volunteers, the Chairperson shall appoint sub-committees as necessary to address various issues and ensure the Safety Supervisor Project Team successfully executes its responsibilities.

2. To ensure that the Safety Supervisor Project Team accomplishes all of its goals, each project team member is expected to carry out all duties and activities for which they volunteer or to which they are assigned by the project team.

3. Each project team member shall wear and properly utilize personal protective equipment when required and encourage others to do so as well.

4. Each project team member shall follow and promote proper safety procedures and display a positive attitude toward safety at all times.

5. Each project team member shall respond properly to requests from the project team's members or others regarding safety-related matters.

6. Each member should endeavor to attend all scheduled Safety Supervisor Project Team meetings and subcommittee meetings, as appropriate. Members shall notify the chairperson of scheduling conflicts prior to the Safety Supervisor Project Team meeting. Members are also expected to contact subcommittee members if they are unable to attend a scheduled subcommittee meeting.

Failure to adhere to the aforementioned requirements may result in removal from the committee.