2007-2009 Collective Bargaining Agreement
Table of Contents
Safety and Health Protection
13.1. Work Environment: It is mutually agreed that the prevention of accidents and injuries to state employees will result in greater efficiency of operations of state government. Toward this end, the Employer shall make every reasonable effort to provide and maintain safe and healthy working conditions and the Association shall fully cooperate by encouraging full-time or regularly scheduled part-time employees to perform their assigned tasks in a safe manner.
13.2. Safety Committee: A Safety Committee composed of members representing full-time and regularly scheduled part-time employees and representing management within the bargaining unit or multiple bargaining units within the same location shall be established. The purpose of the committee shall be to develop programs of safety education, health protection and reasonable standards for compliance by both Employer and employee. Voluntary compliance will be sought initially to reduce injuries and lost workdays.
13.2.1. Meetings: The Safety Committee shall meet at the call of either the Employer or the Association, within ten (10) days.
13.3. Access to Aid, Information: The Employer agrees to maintain first aid kits located in secure but readily accessible areas. All on-the-job injuries, regardless of seriousness, shall be reported to the Supervisor. The names and telephone numbers of emergency services, e.g. police, fire, licensed ambulance services and the poison control center shall be posted on official bulletin boards.
13.4. Access to Inoculations, Diagnostic Clinics: Full-time and regularly scheduled part-time employees shall be allowed reasonable time off from their duties without loss of time or pay in order to participate in inoculations or diagnostic clinics which are sponsored for public employees or authorized by the Division of Public Health. Such time off must be approved by the immediate supervisor and not be unreasonably denied.
13.5. Special Services: The Safety Committee shall ascertain the desirability and/or necessity of providing physical and ophthalmologic examinations, immunization or other diagnostic screening of selected occupations.
13.6. Leave for Training: The Employer may authorize reasonable time off for safety committee members to attend safety and health seminars and training sessions.
13.7. Establish Programs: The Safety Committee shall investigate the feasibility of the establishment of an employee assistance program, comprehensive health and lifestyle programs, and affect their implementation to the full extent found to be feasible.
13.8. Training for Specialized Equipment: The Safety Committee shall establish guidelines that will insure the proper training for all full-time or regularly scheduled part-time employees who use unique or specialized equipment.
13.9. Areas of Interest: The following areas shall be addressed for the purpose of establishing guidelines, implementing programs and/or providing equipment:
- Protective clothing
- Safety equipment
- Fire prevention equipment
- First aid kits, and first aid training
- Self defense guidelines where appropriate
- Transportation of clients
- Number of employees in selected situations
- Work site hazards
- Air quality
- Ergonomics
Other areas of health and safety are subjects of concern for the Safety Committee.
13.10. Unit Safety Committees: Each unit shall have a Safety Committee with equal numbers from management and labor. Labor representatives shall be appointed by the Association.
13.11. Response to Recommendations: The Employer shall provide, within thirty (30) days, a written response to the recommendations of the safety committee which indicates acceptance or rejection of the recommendations and the reasons therefore. An extension of thirty (30) days is permitted upon written notification to the Safety Committee. Unresolved issues shall be submitted to the Labor Management Committee for resolution according to a majority vote of its members. If the LMC is evenly split on an issue, the Association retains the right to submit the matter to arbitration under Article XIV, Section 14.5.
13.12. The Employer will make every reasonable effort to insure that the employee parking areas are properly plowed and/or treated prior to 7:30 a.m., in cases of inclement weather.
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