Los Angeles County Municipal Code Ch. 5.31 Health, Safety Program and Workers' Compensation

A.

The director of personnel shall administer a comprehensive occupational health program designed to protect the health of county employees and to minimize the adverse effects of employee injuries and illness. The program shall include provision for:

Medical examination prior to employment;

Emergency medical care for injured or ill employees and definitive medical care for employees with industrial injuries or illnesses;

A register of physicians, hospitals and medical facilities for use for treatment of employees;

Coordination of the elements of medical management of injured or ill employees, such as referral, treatment, rehabilitation and return to work;

Counseling of employees with medical problems, including emotional or behavioral disorders;

Counseling with management regarding the health of employees and their work environment;

Preventive medicine programs, such as health education, immunization, employee health surveys, and periodic medical appraisals for employees of the Safety series and those exposed to special hazards.

B.

The director of personnel shall issue rules and procedures for department heads and employees in order to implement the occupational health program.

(Ord. 84-0220 § 1 (a)(part), 1084; Ord. 82-0264 § 1 (part), 1982: Ord. 9802 § 6, 1969: Ord. 9740 § 6, 1969: Ord. 9246 § 3 (part), 1967: Ord. 8512 § 4 (part), 1963: Ord. 4099 Art. 3 § 78.05, 1942.)

The director of personnel shall prepare and maintain a register for all county departments and public entities, listing the physicians, hospitals and medical facilities to be used by these departments and public entities for the purpose of furnishing first aid and caring for employees involved in vehicular and industrial accidents.

(Ord. 84-0222 § 1 (a)(part), 1984; Ord. 9246 § 3 (part), 1967: Ord. 8512 § 4 (part), 1963: Ord. 4099 Art. 3 § 78.09, 1942.)

The director of personnel shall administer and provide policy direction for the county-wide environmental health and safety program. In carrying out this responsibility, the director shall take all measures which are deemed necessary or effective to reduce or eliminate environmental health and safety hazards and vehicular accidents and the causes thereof. Each department or institution head shall develop a positive environmental health and safety program adapted to the department's specialized needs and consistent with the county-wide environmental health and safety program and policies. The director of personnel will assist departments in the development, implementation and review of comprehensive programs in accident prevention, accident investigation, and in evaluation, identification and elimination of environmental health and safety hazards.

A.

Investigation. It shall be the duty of each department or institution head, or appointee thereof, to investigate and ascertain the cause of all incidents of occupational illness and injuries, and vehicular accidents in which an employee of the county acting as such is involved or in which any county-owned vehicle is involved.

B.

Inspection and Repair. The superintendent, mechanical services, shall inspect, repair and maintain the buildings, institutions, grounds, furniture and fixtures in those facilities under his or her jurisdiction to assure safe and healthful working conditions and the prevention of occupational injury or illness to county employees. In county buildings, institutions and grounds not under the jurisdiction of the superintendent, mechanical services, it shall be the responsibility of the department or institution head or appointee having such jurisdiction to provide for the inspection, repair and maintenance of building, institutions, grounds, furniture and fixtures in those facilities to assure safe and healthful working conditions and the prevention of injury or illness to county employees.

C.

Training. The individual county departments shall conduct or provide for the conduct of courses and other instructions in environmental health and safety, motor vehicle operation education, and motor vehicle operator training specifically applicable to their individual circumstances. The director of personnel shall assist the individual departments in identifying environmental health and safety hazards and in developing training programs or securing the necessary training or training materials from outside sources.

D.

Reports. The director of personnel shall prescribe the reporting system for occupational illness and injuries, and vehicular accidents and in cooperation with the chief administrative officer, county counsel, and the operating departments, shall periodically review the reporting system to improve upon the adequacy, timeliness, and control of this information.

E.

Statistics. The director of personnel shall collect, and compile pertinent statistical data and prepare such reports as appropriate relating to occupational injuries and illness or accidents involving any county employee, acting as such, or county property, including vehicles. Each department or institution head shall be responsible for the analysis of data pertaining to his or her department or institution, and for continuing review of the department's environmental health and safety program and policies to assure said program and policies are related to actual experience.

F.

Environmental Health Hazards. The director of personnel, in consultation with other county departments, shall prescribe policies and procedures for investigating, evaluating, and alleviating or eliminating environmental health hazards in the work environment of county employees. This shall include testing and evaluating poisonous or other dangerous chemicals used in county facilities. Such materials shall be referred by the purchasing agent to the department of personnel environmental health section for testing prior to their use by any county department. The potential for illness from these chemicals shall be obtained by the director of personnel prior to their use by any county department. Upon request, the director of personnel shall also provide for the inspection of the work environment of county employees to insure compliance with pertinent provisions under the California Occupational Safety and Health Act (Cal-OSHA).

G.

Hazardous Equipment and Materials. The purchasing agent, with the assistance of the director of personnel, the chief administrative officer, and other county departments as required, shall be responsible for the evaluation of all equipment or materials to be purchased by the county to insure that such equipment or materials have been approved, listed or labeled as conforming to generally accepted health and safety standards, such as those established by the Underwriters' Laboratories, Factory Mutuals Laboratories, U.S. Bureau of Standards, U.S. Bureau of Mines, and California Occupational Safety and Health Act.

(Ord. 84-0220 § 1 (a)(part), 1984; Ord. 83-0058 § 5, 1983; Ord. 82-0264 § 1 (part), 1982: Ord. 9886 § 2, 1969; Ord. 9802 §§ 2, 3 and 4, 1969: Ord. 9740 § 2, 1969: Ord. 8512 § 4 (part), 1963: Ord. 4099 Art. 3 § 78.01, 1942.)

The director of personnel shall coordinate and provide policy guidance for a program of environmental health and safety and workers' compensation to reduce the incidence of both occupational illness and injuries, and vehicular accidents, to assist injured employees in the prompt provision of benefits and equitable resolution of their claims, and to restore disabled employees to working status compatible with physical and health limitations and job requirements. As used in Ordinance 4099, the term "county" shall include every "public entity," as said latter term is defined in Section 2.02.220 of this code.

(Ord. 84-0220 § 1 (a)(part), 1984; Ord. 82-0264 § 1 (part), 1982: Ord. 9802 § 1, 1969: Ord. 9740 § 1, 1969: Ord. 8512 § 3, 1963: Ord. 4099 Art. 3 § 78, 1942.)

A.

The director of personnel shall establish, administer and operate, as part of the county-wide safety program, a complete self- insured workers' compensation system to ensure the full provision of benefits under the law to employees whose injuries arise out of and in the course of employment. The system shall include provision for medical, surgical, hospital and other treatment required to cure and relieve the effects of injury, as well as payment of temporary and permanent disability compensation and death benefits as prescribed by state law or by county ordinance. As part of this responsibility, the director of personnel shall establish and administer procedures to provide for the following:

Reporting, investigation, and adjustment of claims arising out of accidents and injuries;

Determination of compensability of medical treatment and the payment of all workers' compensation benefits prescribed by state law or county ordinance;

Collection, compilation and reporting of statistical data. including departmental cost experience and actuarial projections;

Establishment and review of reserves on each case to reflect incurred cost of all anticipated benefits;

Control of workers' compensation costs consistent with provision of full benefits under the law.

B.

The county counsel shall provide legal counsel and representation in any litigation related to workers' compensation.

(Ord. 84-0220 § 1 (a)(part), 1984; Ord. 82-0264 § 1 (part), 1982: Ord. 9802 § 5, 1969; Ord. 8740 § 3, 1969: Ord. 8512 § 4 (part), 1963: Ord. 4099 Art. 3 § 78.02, 1942.)

The director of personnel shall develop and administer a program of employee service and rehabilitation designed to ensure that injured employees and their dependents are provided guidance and information regarding their rights and benefits, assistance in solving problems arising from industrial accidents and help in facilitating employees' return to work. The program shall make provision for medical and vocational rehabilitation, retraining, and reassignment of employees with physical or performance limitations arising out of industrial accidents or non-service-connected disabilities.

(Ord. 84-0220 § 1 (a)(part), 1984; Ord. 9740 § 4, 1969: Ord. 9246 § 3 (part), 1967: Ord. 8512 § 4 (part), 1963: Ord. 4099 Art. 3 § 78.03, 1942.)

A.

In cooperation with the director of personnel, the appointing officers shall be responsible for assisting in the reassigning of employees who, for medical reasons, are unable to perform the normal duties of their assigned positions to such other duties which can be performed without further medical aggravation to the employees involved, or for taking whatever other medical measures are deemed necessary to prevent employees from becoming a hazard to themselves or others.

B.

Any reassignment of an employee resulting from a medical disability, a medical examination or medical reevaluation which involves the creation of an additional position or a reduction in working hours must be approved by the chief administrative officer. Such reassignment shall also be compatible with the provisions and intent of the county retirement system.

(Ord. 84-0220 § 1 (a)(part), 1984; Ord. 9740 § 5, 1969: Ord. 9246 § 3 (part), 1967: Ord. 8512 § 4 (part), 1963: Ord. 4099 Art. 3 § 78.04, 1942.)