San Luis Obispo County Municipal Code Ch. 2.28 Safety Commission

(a) There is created a safety commission which shall consist of one member of each of the following departments, who shall be designated by the respective department head with the concurrence of the county administrative officer and the risk manager:

(1) Agricultural commissioner/sealer of weights and measures;

(2) County administrative office;

(3) Engineering;

(4) General hospital;

(5) General services;

(6) Health agency;

(7) Personnel;

(8) Probation;

(9) Sheriff-coroner;

(10) Social services.

(b) Additionally, an election for an employee representative shall be conducted each year during the month of December. There shall be an announcement of nomination of candidates for safety commission representative circulated to all county operations. Employees will have a two-week period to submit candidates. An election shall be held with the candidate receiving the highest number of votes being declared the winner. For the first year the newly elected representatives' term shall expire with the election of the employee representative to take office January 1st. In the event the employee representative is unable to complete the term, the safety commission shall designate the successor to complete the unexpired term.

(c) The county safety commission shall include as ex officio members, the chairman of the board of supervisors, and the county administrative officer.

(d) Changes in departmental membership may be made by resolution of the board of supervisors.

(Ord. 2524 § 1 (part), 1991: Ord. 2170 § 1, 1984: Ord. 1592 § 1 (part), 1976: Ord. 892 § 1, 1967: Ord. 789 § 1, 1965: Ord. 772 § 1, 1964: Ord. 700 § 1, 1963: Ord. 653 § 1, 1963: Ord. 462 § 1 (part), 1960: prior code § 3-006)

The commission shall elect one of its members as chairperson at the first regular meeting of the commission held in each calendar year.

(Ord. 2524 § 1 (part), 1991: Ord. 1592 § 1 (part), 1976: Ord. 653 § 2, 1963: Ord. 462 § 1 (part), 1960: prior code § 3-006.1)

It shall be the duty of the safety commission:

(1) To promote safety and enhance the effectiveness of safety awareness, training, accident prevention and emergency preparedness;

(2) To recommend to the board of supervisors through the human resources director countywide safety policies, programs and priorities on countywide safety;

(3) To report to the human resources director on the effectiveness of departmental safety programs;

(4) To review accident and lost-time information and make recommendations where appropriate;

(5) To review and/or recommend disciplinary action when warranted for safety violations;

(6) To prescribe the reports and procedures necessary to carry out the duties of the commission.

(Ord. 2524 § 1 (part), 1991: Ord. 1592 § 1 (part), 1976: prior code § 3-006.2)

(Ord. No. 3438, § 1, 5-18-21)

The county safety commission may hold such hearings as are deemed necessary for the purpose of determining what county safety rules are necessary, developing a program of accident prevention throughout the county service and recommending to the board of supervisors through the human resources director countywide safety policies, programs and priorities on the countywide safety corrections.

(Ord. 2524 § 1 (part), 1991: Ord. 1592 § 1 (part), 1976: prior code § 3-006.3)

(Ord. No. 3439, § 1, 5-18-21)

Regular meetings for the county safety commission shall be held at least once each three months at such times and places as the commission in regular session designates. Special meetings for holding hearings or other specific purposes may be called as necessary when so requested by three members, and the human resources director, or the county risk manager.

(Ord. 2524 § 1 (part), 1991: Ord. 1592 § 1 (part), 1976: prior code § 3-006.4)

(Ord. No. 3440, § 1, 5-18-21)

It shall be the duty of all county officers and employees to submit official reports required by the county safety commission and to furnish the commission information requested in connection with its duties.

(Ord. 2524 § 1 (part), 1991: Ord. 1592 § 1 (part), 1976: prior code § 3-006.5)

Department heads will be directly responsible for all occupational safety and health matters within their department. In addition, every department head shall appoint at least one person within that department as the department's safety representative. Departmental safety representatives, in addition to their regular duties, will be responsible for reviewing reports of all accidents that occur within their respective departments and making appropriate recommendations. They will assist the department head in the recommendations. They will assist the department head in the development of departmental safety rules where conditions or hazards exist that are not covered by the general safety rules. They shall conduct brief safety inspections, reporting those hazards not immediately correctable to their department head.

(Ord. 2524 § 1 (part), 1991: Ord. 1592 § 1 (part), 1976: prior code § 3-006.6)

Senate Bill 198 and California Code of Regulations, Title 8, Section 1509(2) of the Construction Orders, Section 3203 of the General Safety Orders and Labor Code Section 6401.7 mandates the county to establish, implement and maintain an effective injury and illness prevention program (referred to as IIPP program). The county board of supervisors is responsible for the county injury and illness program. The human resources department, risk management division shall represent the county in program development and implementation. The risk manager is assigned the authority and responsibility for the administration of the injury and illness prevention program and the county safety officer is responsible for the coordination of the IIPP program. Department heads are responsible for implementation of the IIPP program within their department. The elements of the IIPP program are management commitments, assignment of authority and responsibility, hazard assessment and control, safety rules and compliance, safety and health training and communication. Changes may be made to the IPP program by the human resources department, risk management division as deemed necessary.

(Ord. 2524 § 1, 1991)

(Ord. No. 3441, § 1, 5-18-21)

Departmental safety committees shall be maintained in at least the following departments:

Public works

Planning and building

Agricultural commissioner/sealer of weights and measures

Health agency

Social services

The departmental safety committees will be responsible for reviewing the reports of all accidents that occur within their respective departments and making appropriate recommendations. They will assist in the development of departmental safety rule where conditions or hazards exist that are not covered by the general safety rules. The departmental safety committees will conduct brief safety inspections, reporting those hazards not immediately correctable to their department heads. Departmental safety committees shall meet at least once each month in order to carry out their duties. Departments not specifically required to maintain departmental safety committees may establish and maintain a departmental safety committee if they determine it is necessary or if recommended by the county safety commission. Changes in the number of required departmental safety committees may be made by resolution of the board of supervisors.

(Ord. 2524 § 1 (part), 1991: Ord. 2170 § 2, 1984: Ord. 1899 § 1, 1978: Ord. 1592 § 1 (part), 1976)

(Ord. No. 3442, § 1, 5-18-21)

The human resources director in consultation with the county administrative officer, upon finding that an imminent safety hazard exists, may order that any operation of equipment, job function, job site or facility be discontinued, stopped, vacated or closed when the continued operation or use of equipment, performance of work, or occupation of the job site or facility constitutes an imminent hazard to employees. An imminent hazard would exist if there is a substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a condition which exists or from one or more practices, means, methods, operations or processes which have been adopted or are in use in the workplace.

(Ord. 2524 § 1 (part), 1991: Ord. 1592 § 1 (part), 1976)

(Ord. No. 3443, § 1, 5-18-21)

Expenses of the commission shall constitute a county charge within the limits of appropriations approved by the board of supervisors.

(Ord. 2524 § 1 (part), 1991: Ord. 1592 § 1 (part), 1976: prior code § 3-006.7)