Trindel Insurance FundDepartment Safety

Representative Training

Safety Incident & Hazard Safety Incident & Hazard

ReportingReporting

Why???

• CAL OSHA – the employer must provide a means for employees to communicate and report safety hazards in the workplace.

• Trindel insurance Fund – each member county must provide a means for their employees to communicate and report safety hazards in the workplace.

• How can you fix things you don’t know about?

What Is an Incident?

• Any occurrence that results in, or has the potential for injury, illness, property damage.

• The smaller the better.• Small things now prevent big

things later.

What Is a Hazard?

• A condition that may lead to injury, illness or property damage.

• A reported hazard can prevent an incident.

Near Miss

• The most valuable report!!!• Provides opportunity prevent

repeating and event that might lead to injury, illness or property damage.

How Incidents, Hazards & Near Misses Are

Reported.

Verbally

• Immediate supervisor.• Any supervisor.• Member of safety committees.• Designated safety representative.• Union representative.

Written

• Formal form.• Binder paper.• Back of shopping bag.• May be anonymous.• All are treated the same.

Sometimes a Visit From Cal OSHA!

• Why would that happen.– Injury or death.– Random visit.– Complaint from employee.

• Usually because of slow or no response to previous report.

• The better the reporting and remediation, the less likely are employee complaints.

Do I Have to Use the Trindel I/H Form?

• Any form that is readily available.• The Trindel form is designed to fill

all needs.• Easy to use and understand.

The I/H Form Communicates!

• You need to know.• Not knowing will mean nothing to

Cal OSHA in the event of serious injury or the death of an employee.

• The more you know the better.• You can’t fix what you don’t know

about.

How Do You Respond?

• Treat any report seriously.• Even if it seems trivial or nit picky.• Always ask for the cause of the

incident, hazard or near-miss.• Always ask for suggestions for remedy.

• Always get back to employee on what is being done!

• Employee should hear in no more than 7 working days from date of report.

• Lack of follow-up may result negative outcome.

Where Do The Reports Go?

First and Foremost - The Department Head

• The department head is responsible for assessment and remedy.

• The department head will determine level of risk and remedy.

• Very bad karma to “blind side” your department head.

Designated Safety Representative

• Addresses issues• Investigate any I/H report• May call in outside resources

County LPS (Loss Prevention Specialist)

• LPS is the designated safety officer for the county

• The person that has to talk to Cal OSHA

• Provides coordination and monitoring of progress toward resolution.

• Prevents reports from falling into a “black hole”.

County Wide Safety Committee

• To monitor progress toward remedy.• To provide resources and or assistance.• Review loss prevention programs and

policies• Make recommendations to county

Trindel Insurance Fund Safety Officer

• Provides means of tracking trends.• Allows issues and solutions to be

shared with other counties.• Prevents reports from falling into a

“black hole”.

What’s the Point?

• Communication of safety issues is the foundation of a successful safety program

• A successful safety program is a key element of a efficient and productive workplace.

• Failing to address reports of hazards place the employer is a very vulnerable position.

Why Is This Important?• An unsafe or unhealthy workplace is

bad use of the public resources.• Staff is in the best position to identify

hazards in the workplace.• It is the employer’s responsibility to

provide a safe and healthy workplace.• Reported safety issues not addressed

lead to injuries.• Failure to provide means of reporting

incidents and hazards is a violation of the law.

Incident/hazard Reports Are Good for You!

• Encourage the reporting of safety issues

• Treat them all seriously• Act immediately• What you don’t know will hurt you!