Employee Safety

The Superintendent or designee shall provide safety devices, safeguards, methods and processes for staff that are reasonably adequate to render the employment and place of employment safe. Injury and Illness Prevention Program The district's injury and illness prevention program shall cover all district employees and all other workers whom the district controls or directs and directly supervises on the job to the extent that workers are exposed to hazards specific to their worksite and job assignment. The obligation of contractors or other employers who control or direct and supervise their own employees on the job shall not be affected by the district's injury prevention program. (Labor Code 6401.7) The district's injury and illness prevention program shall include: (Labor Code 6401.7; 8 CCR 3203) - The name/position of the person(s) with authority and responsibility for implementing the program. - A system for ensuring that employees comply with safe and healthful work practices, which may include but not be limited to: - Recognition of employees who follow safe and healthful work practices - Training and retraining programs - Disciplinary actions - A system for communicating with employees in a form readily understandable by all employees on matters related to occupational health and safety, including provisions designed to encourage employees to report hazards at the worksite without fear of reprisal. This system may include but not be limited to: - Meetings - Training programs - Posting - Written communications - A system of anonymous notification by employees about hazards - Procedures for identifying and evaluating workplace hazards, including scheduled periodic inspections to identify unsafe conditions and work practices. Such inspections shall be made: - Whenever introducing into the workplace new substances, processes, procedures or equipment that represent a new occupational safety or health hazard - Whenever the district is made aware of a new or previously unrecognized hazard - A procedure for investigating occupational injury or illness. - Methods and/or procedures for correcting unsafe or unhealthful conditions, work practices and work procedures in a timely manner based on the severity of the hazard when observed or discovered. When an imminent hazard exists which cannot be immediately abated without endangering employee(s) and/or property, these procedures shall call for the removal of all exposed staff from the area except those necessary to correct the hazardous condition. Employees needed to correct the condition shall be provided necessary safeguards. - Training and instruction: - To all new employees - To all employees given new job assignments for which training has not previously been received - Whenever new substances, processes, procedures or equipment are introduced into the workplace and represent a new hazard - Whenever the district is made aware of a new or previously unrecognized hazard - To familiarize supervisors with the safety and health hazards to which employees under their immediate direction and control may be exposed Records of the steps taken to implement and maintain the injury and illness prevention program shall be kept in accordance with 8 CCR 3203. Hearing Protection When information indicates that any employee's exposure to noise may equal or exceed an eight-hour average sound level of 85 decibels, the Superintendent or designee shall implement a hearing conservation program in accordance with state and federal regulations. (8 CCR 5097, 29 CFR 1910.95) Eye Safety Devices Eye safety devices shall be worn by employees whenever they are engaged in or observing an activity involving hazards or hazardous substances likely to cause injury to the eyes. (Education Code 32030) Such activities include, but are not limited to, the following: (Education Code 32031) - Working with hot molten metal - Milling, sawing, turning, shaping, cutting, grinding and stamping of any solid materials - Heat treating, tempering, or kiln firing of any metal or other materials - Gas or electric arc welding - Repair or servicing of any vehicles, machinery or equipment - Working with hot liquids or solids or with chemicals which are flammable, toxic, corrosive to living tissues, irritating, strongly sensitizing, radioactive, or which generate pressure through heat, decomposition, or other means