(A) The Town of Sellersburg is committed to employee safety and to protecting employees from accidents. The town and all employees have a responsibility to drive and work safely at all times. This policy was created to promote and ensure the safe conduct of town operations for the benefit of all employees and residents.
(B) Employees must make safety the first consideration when conducting town operations.
(C) Employees must demonstrate a continuous awareness of safety considerations as an integral part of achieving accident prevention and efficient productivity.
(D) The town will provide proper tools and materials, equipment, and facilities, as well as sufficient training for a safe work environment. Employees must understand and observe all town rules and safety regulations.
(E) Accident reporting. Following any accident, an employee is required to contact your department head as soon as possible. If your department head is not available, you must follow the chain of command for communication until someone is contacted. Accident reporting must not be delayed because the department head is unavailable.
(F) Universal precautions.
(1) Employees in certain departments may face occupational exposure to blood, bloodborne pathogens, or infectious material. The town will observe universal precautions to prevent contact with infectious material, and all such material will be considered infectious regardless of the source of the material being known. Notify your supervisor or department head if you are exposed.
(2) To ensure the safety of our employees, the town has created the following guidelines:
(a) Employees must wear protective equipment (gloves, goggles, face guards, and the like) at all times when potential exposure exists.
(b) Do not compress trash in waste cans. The trash may contain needles or sharp objects exposed to infectious materials and those items may burst during compression.
(c) Examine trash bags prior to handling them to identify leaks, liquid substances, or sharp objects.
(d) Do not reuse any protective equipment except for approved gloves that can be properly disinfected and cleaned.
(e) Utilize proper handwashing techniques often and frequently. Handwashing facilities are available to employees who incur exposure.
(f) Wastewater employees: do not use your hands to clean out impellers or pumps where sharp objects may be lodged. Utilize the proper tools to clean, disassemble, and remove the objects. Use caution when shoveling out pits and tanks as infectious materials could be present in the sludge.
(Ord. 2021-OR-031, passed 11-22-21)