(A) Employees involved in a traffic accident while on duty are required to notify law enforcement (city police, county sheriff or highway patrol), the employee’s immediate supervisor and the County Risk Manager immediately, or as soon as practical, to report the accident and fill out necessary accident forms. For clarity, an ACCIDENT is defined as an unfortunate or negligent event resulting from carelessness, unawareness, ignorance or a combination of causes. An INCIDENT is defined as wear and tear that can be expected on a vehicle or equipment through normal usage. It is the employee’s responsibility to secure the names and addresses of any witnesses in addition to requesting the other party to prepare a statement to be written and delivered to the County Risk Management Manager. Notification to the supervisor, the proper accident reports and related information should be expedited to enable the timely filing of insurance claims.
(B) Failure to notify law enforcement, the supervisor and/or County Risk Manager of a traffic accident immediately shall result in a reprimand or other disciplinary action.
(C) Depending upon the seriousness of the accident in which the employee is involved and the causation for such an accident, the employee job status and compensation could be affected through reassignment, reclassification, demotion or dismissal. Employees who have their driver’s license suspended or revoked, who are no longer able to perform the essential functions of the job may be placed upon leave without pay or be terminated. Each situation shall be given case-by-case consideration and employees so affected may appeal through the established grievance procedure.
(D) Drug and alcohol testing will occur when an employee has been involved in an on-duty accident if by observation of the employee and the circumstances of the accident reasonably could indicate violation of the county’s drug policy, as detailed in § 32.220.
(Ord. passed 6- -2019)