(a) The City shall continue to make provisions for the safety of its employees consistent with the rules/requirements of the Ohio Employment Risk Reduction Standards and such rules as may otherwise be adopted by the Public Employment Risk Reduction Advisory Commission of the Ohio Department of Industrial Relations, Division of Occupational Safety and Health, provided however, remedies shall be pursuant to the provision of H.B. 308. Protective devices, as required by law, to properly protect employees from injury shall be provided by the City.
(b) Employees are to comply with all general safety rules of the City and any special divisional safety rules and shall be required to use safety equipment provided for them.
(c) Local 20 will participate in the City-wide Labor- Management Health and Safety Committee. The Union will be represented on this Committee by the local Union business representative and one (1) other designated representative. The City will be represented by a designee of the Director of Human Resources and such other representatives as are needed. This Committee will also include representatives from other bargaining units within the City. The Committee will consider all issues brought before it regardless of the bargaining unit impact.
(d) This joint Committee will perform the following functions:
(1) The Committee shall develop annual goals, objectives, and timetables directly aimed at reducing worker's compensation costs. Goals and objectives not met within established timeframes shall be critically reviewed by the Committee. If the City, in its sole discretion, is dissatisfied with progress in meeting goals and objectives or with the Committee's action or inaction, the City may take such actions as it deems necessary to exact cost containment.
(2) The Committee shall develop other cost containment measures, which shall include:
1. Enhanced managed care and utilization review;
2. Increased claims control and claims audits;
(3) The Committee may develop a safety award program.
(4) The Committee shall review and analyze all reports of work-related injury or illness, as submitted by the representative of the Human Resources Development Section, and recommend procedures for the prevention of accidents and disease and for the promotion of health and safety of employees.
(5) The Committee shall promote health and safety education and/or participate in such programs.
(e) Sub-committees may be formed as deemed necessary by the co-chairpersons to study issues, develop reasonable solutions, and report back to the Committee.
(f) Union representatives will receive their regular pay while on Committee business.
(g) The Committee shall meet regularly, on at least a monthly basis, and attendance shall be required. Actions taken in the absence of a bargaining unit representative shall be binding upon that bargaining unit. The city will provide minutes of each meeting.
(h) Divisional Safety Committees shall be formed which will include the commissioner or designee, a representative designated by the Union and other divisional personnel mutually agreed upon.