Health and Safety Manual

Field Health and Safety Program

March 2003

Table of Contents

Health and Safety Policy Memo--Field Health and Safety Program
Abstract
1.0  General Information
2.0  Field Staff Definitions Criteria
3.0  Roles and Responsibilities
4.0  Field Health and Safety Program
5.0  Field Health and Safety Procedures
6.0  Medical Surveillance Program
7.0  Employee Information and Training Program
8.0  Personal Protective Equipment
9.0  Health and Safety Equipment and Supplies
10.0  Injury and/or Exposure Reporting
11.0  Regulatory Reporting and Recordkeeping
Appendix 1:

• Field Staff Identification Form - Individual
• Field Staff Identification Form - Group

Appendix 2:

• Health and Safety Designation Summary
• Tier 0 Field Staff Health and Safety Instrument and Equipment
• Tier I Field Staff Health and Safety Instrument and Equipment
• Tier II Field Staff Health and Safety Instrument and Equipment

Appendix 3: Field Staff Health and Safety Equipment and Instrumentation

Appendix 4: Travel Safety

Appendix 5: Inspection Field Activity Procedures

Appendix 6: Field Decontamination Procedures

Appendix 7: Environmental/Personal Air Surveillance and Monitoring Devices

Manual Home

Health and Safety Policy Memo

Attached is a copy of the California Integrated Waste Management Board’s (CIWMB) Field Health and Safety Program. The purpose of this program is to provide policy and procedures for the protection of field staff who, in the course of their duties, may be exposed to hazardous environments. It is management's responsibility to ensure that staff does not perform field activities until they are adequately trained, equipped and certified fit.  It is staff's responsibility to support and comply with the requirements within this document. 

If you have any questions about the implementation of this program please contact Diane Kihara, Health and Safety Officer, at (916) 341-6392.

Chapter 3 Home | Manual Home

Abstract

It is the responsibility of every employer to provide a safe and healthful environment for their employees to work by providing an effective Health and Safety Program. One component of this Program is to provide direction through policy and procedures addressing occupational health and safety issues. The California Integrated Waste Management Board has established this Field Health and Safety Program to meet its employees needs.

The CIWMB recognizes that an effective health and safety program is directly related to the dedication with which it is implemented by both management and employees. 

1.0  General Information

Introduction

The California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB) recognizes that some employees perform field duties that may expose them to hazardous environments. This Field Health and Safety Program is one component of the CIWMB's overall Health and Safety Program. The Program has been developed to comply with state and federal laws and regulations designed to protect employees' from toxic, hazardous or infectious materials and physical hazards they may be exposed to in the work environment.

The provisions of this document intend to supplement but not conflict with, existing law, regulation or any ruling made thereto governing employee conduct and performance and management responsibilities, including but not limited to the State Employer Employee Relations Act, Workers Compensation law, statutes and regulations implemented by the State Personnel Board and the Department of Personnel Administration, the State Administrative Manual and Title 8, California Code of Regulations (CCR) General Industry Safety Orders. Nothing in this document is intended to supersede or invalidate such laws, regulations or any rulings made thereto. Management has the duty and responsibility to impose conditions of the workplace and for performance, consistent with the law, as referenced above.

This document is intended to further the goal of providing safe and healthful working conditions, without limiting the rights and responsibilities provided for under the law of management and employees.

Scope

The Field Health and Safety Program (hereafter referred to as the Field Plan) is designed to be an integral part of the California Integrated Waste Management Board's (CIWMB) Illness and Injury Prevention Plan and addresses the health and safety needs of CIWMB staff who perform field activities as defined in this document.

Policy

It is the policy of the Board to provide safe and healthful working conditions for employees when performing field activities. It is the goal of the Board to promote and maintain the well being of personnel by preventing occupational injuries and illnesses. Activities associated with field duties shall be evaluated and controlled to prevent accidents or exposures to hazards. This Field Plan is intended to provide guidance to Board employees when job tasks require activities to be performed outside of the office and in the field and applies only to normal and routine field activities. The Board will provide adequate training, equipment, personnel and financial support needed to protect employees from hazards which are known or suspected to be on-site.

Authority

It is the policy of the CIWMB to provide safe and healthful working conditions for employees when performing field activities. It is the goal of the CIWMB to promote and maintain the well being of personnel by preventing occupational injuries and illnesses. Activities associated with field duties shall be evaluated and controlled to prevent accidents or exposures to hazards. This Field Plan is intended to provide guidance to CIWMB employees when job tasks require activities to be performed outside of the office and in the field and applies only to normal and routine field activities. The CIWMB will provide adequate training, equipment, personnel and financial support needed to protect employees from hazards, which are known or suspected, to be on-site.

The legal/regulatory authority for these guidelines are based on:

• California Code of Regulations (CCR), Title 8, Section 3203, Injury & Illness Prevention Program
• California Code of Regulations (CCR), Title 8, Section 5194, Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response
• Labor Code 6400, Safe and healthy workplace and job requirement
• Labor Code 6401, Safe and healthy equipment and practices requirement
• CIWMB Health & Safety Manual - Injury and Illness Prevention Program
• CIWMB Administrative Policy Memo, G-5: Interim Field Health & Safety Plan, June 26, 1991

Chapter 3 Home | Manual Home

2.0  Field Staff Definition Criteria

Applicability/Definitions

For the purposes of this Field Plan, the term field activity shall be defined as any activity or task that requires CIWMB staff to work outside of the office, and which may expose them to a hazardous or unsafe environment and/or operation. This Field Plan defines the following as field activities*: 

• Enforcement activities
• Closure activities
• Closed site investigation
• Asbestos containing waste (ACW) inspections
• Remediation activities
• Subsurface landfill fire investigation
• Permitting and inspection of solid waste facility activities
• Permitting and inspection of tire activities
• Field tours
• Facility reviews for grant purpose such as used oil or household hazardous waste
• Research and development
• CEQA review
• Waste characterization sorts
• Market development/waste prevention site review*
• Used Oil recycling facility inspection

*Other activities will be evaluated and consultation will be provided by the Health and Safety Officer on an as needed basis.

The term "field staff" shall be applied to any CIWMB employee who performs field activities  (such as field duties or field work) as defined above. Supervisors and managers are responsible for designating qualified CIWMB staff, who perform field activities, as Field Staff. Supervisors must complete the Field Staff Identification Form (Individual and/or Group), Appendix 1 and return it to the Health and Safety Officer. The Health and Safety Officer will provide assistance and guidance to make this designation. To further assist managers/supervisors in this task, the terms "field" or “non-field” staff is further defined below. Field staff designation includes Tier 0, Tier I, and Tier II (refer to Field Staff Criteria below).

Exclusion: Meetings, short visits or other "non-field activities" held on-site which have no known threats to employee health and safety is excluded from this definition including but not limited to tire dealers and trucking yards.

Additions/Changing Designations

Changes in an employees designation shall be made by the Supervisor/Manager and must be requested in writing to the Health and Safety Officer on the Field Staff Identification Form - Individual, see Appendix 1. Ample time to complete the requirements in terms of medical monitoring, training and equipment must be allowed to upgrade persons to field staff status. Conversely, field staff may be downgraded to non-field staff either through written notification by the supervisor/manager to the Health and Safety Officer or medically removed as provided by this Field Plan.

Field Staff Criteria

Chapter 3 Home | Manual Home

3.0  Roles and Responsibilities

The following individuals and programs are responsible for implementing the CIWMB's Field Plan. Duties and responsibilities include:

Executive Management

• Supporting the health and safety program of the CIWMB.
• Seeking adequate funding and resources for training, facilities, equipment, supplies, and medical surveillance necessary to implement the programs indicated by this policy.
• Consulting with Health and Safety Program staff as required to implement this policy.
• Providing employees the medical monitoring necessary to protect their health.
• Providing reports of all field staff exposure and exposure events related to toxic, hazardous or infectious materials and/or physical injuries.

CIWMB Managers/Supervisors

The CIWMB Manager/Supervisor is responsible for ensuring that proper health and safety procedures and requirements for this plan are being followed by all field staff. The manager/supervisor also has overall responsibility for implementing the Field Plan. Additional responsibilities include:

• Designating employees under their supervision as field and Tier.
• Ensuring that employees under their supervision know and follow this Field Plan.
• Limiting field activities dealing with potentially hazardous environments only to CIWMB employees, who are certified, properly trained, equipped, and authorized for such field activities.
• Ensuring that Field Staff are notified of known, or suspected, field conditions that may result in injury or exposure to toxic and hazardous materials. 
• Ensuring that employee medical removal requests and documentation are sent to the CIWMB's Health and Safety Officer.
• Ensuring that injured employees are provided with prompt first aid followed by professional medical attention. 
• Ensuring that the Disability Benefits Coordinator is notified of all injuries.

Health and Safety Program

The Health and Safety Program provides technical consultation and training on field health and safety issues for all CIWMB employees. Included in these responsibilities are:

• Developing, implementing, and updating this Field Plan.
• Conducting annual reviews and updates of this Field Health & Safety Program.
• Developing and implementing the CIWMB's Medical Surveillance Program. This includes performing recordkeeping requirements.
• Acting as a liaison to transmit comments and suggestions on field health and safety matters from CIWMB employees to the Health and Safety Committee.
• Ensuring that all health and safety supplies and equipment, including instrumentation are available in adequate supply upon request.
• Providing health and safety training and education for CIWMB staff covered by this plan.
• Maintaining health and safety supplies and equipment inventory and provide information and research on new developments in safety supplies.
• Maintaining and calibrating all health and safety instrumentation used for field activities.
• Being available for consultation during the selection of appropriate health and safety clothing and equipment by field staff.
• Ensuring that all health and safety equipment meets acceptable level of quality control and quality assurance and that the equipment can and is being used for its intended purpose.
• Designating a health and safety coordinator training for each Regional Office, upon approval of the Branch Manager.
• Maintaining updated listing of all field positions and providing this information to the Human Resources Office (HRO).

Health and Safety Committee

The CIWMB's joint labor/management Health and Safety Committee routinely meets to discuss health and safety issues and make recommendations for appropriate actions on health and safety issues. The committee members also act as a liaison to transmit comments and suggestions on health and safety matters from CIWMB employees to the Health and Safety Officer. The Committee assists management and the Health and Safety Program in promoting a safe and healthful workplace.

Field Staff

Field staff are responsible:

• To support and comply with the CIWMB's Field Health & Safety Program.
• To adhere to relevant health and safety requirements as identified in this Field Plan.
• To participate in the medical surveillance program.
• To participate in health and safety training.
• To obtain appropriate training for surveillance and monitoring equipment.
• To properly use and care for all field issued equipment as well as field surveillance and monitoring equipment.
• To properly plan and safely execute field work.
• To notify one's immediate supervisor and the Health and Safety Officer of any documented medical condition which may be adversely impacted by field activities. 
• To immediately notify his/her immediate supervisor of injuries or exposures to hazardous materials.
• To complete and send his/her immediate supervisor written reports regarding incidents of personal injury or exposure to toxic, hazardous or infectious materials.

Chapter 3 Home | Manual Home

4.0  Field Health and Safety Program

This Field Health and Safety Program is designed to identify, evaluate, and control health and safety hazards in the field for the purpose of CIWMB employee protection, and to address, as appropriate, site analysis, engineering controls, exposure limits, and waste handling procedures for field work.

It is the CIWMB's intent to initiate and maintain a comprehensive program to protect Field Staff from exposure to hazardous environments. The Field Health and Safety Program shall include:

• Field Health and Safety Policy
• Field Health and Safety Procedures
• Medical Surveillance Program
• Employee Information and Safety Training Program
• Health and Safety Equipment and Supplies
• Personal Protective Equipment     
• Environmental/Personal Air Surveillance and Monitoring Devices
• Injuries or Exposure Reporting
• Regulatory Reporting and Record keeping

Chapter 3 Home | Manual Home | Next Section >>

Last updated: November 01, 2007