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HomeMy WebLinkAbout41-Risk Management CiTy'OF SAN BERaRDINO - REQUEST Q,R COUNCIL ACTION From: VICTOR LORCH, DIRECTOR RISK MANAGEMENT Subject: WORKERS' COMPENSATION BENEFITS PURSUANT TO LABOR CODE 3363.5 FOR VOLUNTEERS, WORK STUDY & INTERN Dept: Date: MARCH 19, 1991 Synopsis of Previous Council action: None. ! Recommended motion: Adopt Resolution. Signature Contact person: Victor Lorch Phone: 384-5308 Supporting data attached: Ward: FUNDING REQUIREMENTS: Amount: Source: Finance: Council Notes: A ___...J_ I~___ 11.1_ YI CIT~' 'OF SAN BER~ARDINO - REQUEST 90R COUNCIL ACTION STAFF REPORT To curtail liability exposure and contain potential 3rd party liability claims against the city of San Bernardino by volunteers working in the city, we recommend the Council adopt a Resolution extending the city's Workers' Compensation Coverage to volunteers, work study and interns while in the scope of performing volunteer services or working for the city. Section 3363.5 of the covering volunteers, performing services or California work study working with Labor Code provides for students and interns Public Agencies. By providing Workers' compensation benefits, we any potential 3rd party claims and contain indemnity costs within the Workers' Compensation can curtail medical and guidelines. We have checked with other cities such as Riverside and found their City councils have adopted similar Resolutions. Being self-insured, we can better serve these parties and create a feeling of good will for the classes who serve the city of San Bernardino. .iI$l ,- a o ..- , . . ...!"" ............ t 1"': L~h. f'\ ,!,:;" CJ.ty of San BernardJ.no... ",.-,.,,, "',,,. ...... INTEROFFICE MEMORANDtp,f ,,'f> ? I" n c:c:: 9103-4224 rJ~ 11":..\ 2;... r..';; oJ ...n... SUBJECT : SHAUNA EDWINS, CITY ADMINISTRATOR <.}!. . VICTOR F. LORCH, DIRECTOR OF RISK MANAGEMENT0 I:'L WORKERS' COMPENSATION COVERAGE FOR VOLUNTEERS TO: FROM: DATE: March 22, 1991 COPIES: FRED WILSON, ASSISTANT CITY ADMINISTRATOR ------------------------------------------------------------- In order to curtail the exposure of volunteers working for the City and filing liability claims against the city for negligence, we recommend that a Council Resolution be adopted to place the volunteers under the city's self-insured workers' compensation system. By doing this, we will be able to contain the costs of claims filed against the city and also to provide a better relationship with our volunteers by paying their claims promptly in accordance with the workers' compensation system. Should you have any further questions, please feel free to give me a call. - o ~ v ~ Effective January 1, 1990 the legislature passed and the governor signed into law Senate Bill 198 sponsored by Senator Greene. This law effectively revises several sections of the California Labor Code. The most significant changes are as follows: Section 6401.7 . ~ requires all employers, regardless of size, to implement and maintain an effective injury prevention program. The program shall be written and shall include, but not be limited to, the following elements: (1) Identification of the person or persons responsible for implementing the program. (2) The employer's system for identifying and evaluating workplace hazards, including scheduled periodic inspections to identify unsafe conditions and work practices. (3) The employer's methods and procedures for correcting unsafe or unhealthy conditions and work practices in a timely manner. (4) An occupational health and safety training program designed to instruct employees in general safe and healthy work practices and to provide specific instruction with respect to hazards specific to each employee's job assignment. (5) The employer's system for communicating with employees on occupational health and safety matters, including provisions designed to encourage employees to inform the employer of hazards at the worksite without fear of reprisal. (6) The employer's system for ensuring that employees comply with safe and healthy work practices, which may include disciplinary action. In addition, the employer shall correct unsafe and unhealthy conditions and work practices in a timely manner based on the severity of the hazard. The employer shall train all employees when the training program in first established, all new employees, and all employees given a new job assignment, and shall train employees whenever new substances, processes, procedures, or equipment are introduced to the workplace and represent a new hazard, and whenever the employer receives notification of a new or previously unrecognized hazard. A, II .- o 1""\ V CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO INJURY AND ILLNESS PREVENTION PROGRAM I. GENERAL The city committed recognizes injury and of San Bernardino, through its management, is to the safety and health of all employees and the need to comply with regulations governing accident prevention and employee safety. II. OBJECTIVE The primary objective of the Injury and Illness Preven- tion Program (Program) is to insure compliance with the California Occupational Safety and Health Act (Cal/OSHA) Title 8, Section 3203, which requires each employer to: A. Establish and maintain an effective Injury and Illness Prevention program. B. Provide a safe and healthy working environment for all employees. C. Reduce the human and financial losses resulting from injuries and illnesses arising out of or occurring in the course of employment. D. Establish safety policies, committees, training and communications processes which will contribute to and be a part of the Injury and Illness Prevention Program. E. Establish on-going 1nJury and illness prevention programs for all departments. III. INJURY AND ILLNESS PREVENTION PROGRAM A. Support All employees are expected to comply with the Injury and Illness Prevention Program. The program reflects the administration's concern for safety and its commitment to the policies outlined in the program. B. Responsibilities 1. The Mayor will be responsible for overseeing the Injury and Illness Prevention Program. He shall designate the city Administrator to direct the Injury and Illness Prevention 1 o 1""\ V performance records. d. Provide safety orientation, adequate job training and continuing safety instruction for all department employees. e. Assist the Safety Officer and Occupational Health Nurse in the on-going safety and illness prevention training for super- visors. f. Insure compliance with Cal/OSHA regulations with regard to specific performance such as tailgate meetings. 4. The supervisor is the key to a successful Injury and Illness Prevention Program. The supervisor shall: a. Recognize the potential or real hazards of each job supervised. b. continuously observe and evaluate work conditions and procedures to defect and correct unsafe conditions and practices. c. Emphasize to employees the benefits of observing safety procedures and of using the prescribed protective equipment. d. Enforce those safety rules, procedures and policies applicable to their function. e. Recommend discipline for employees who do not comply with safety rules, procedures and policies. f. provide new employee orientation, job specific training and tailgate training sessions. Records of the training shall be maintained in the department's files for a minimum of three years. g. promptly investigate injuries, illnesses and accidents. h. Encourage employees to report unsafe conditions and to submit practical sugges- tions for correction. i. Immediately initiate action to correct all safety hazards which are identified. The supervisor shall notify the department head immediately if further corrective action is necessary. j. Insure that tools, equipment and protective devices are properly maintained and uti- lized. k. Perform those duties which will enhance the success of the Injury and Illness Preven- tion Program. 5. All employees are required to develop and demonstrate safe work habits. They sh~ll: a. promptly report to their superv~sor all accidents and injuries occurring within the 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 - .1j!!I A o 1'"'\ V RESOLUTION NO. RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO, DECLARING THAT VOLUNTEERS, WORK-STUDY AND INTERNS SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING WORKERS' COMPENSATION COVERAGE FOR SAID VOLUNTEERS, WORK-STUDY AND INTERNS WHILE PROVIDING THEIR SERVICES. WHEREAS the City of San Bernardino utilizes the services of unpaid volunteers, work-study and intern in positions within a number of its departments; and WHEREAS section 3363.5 of the California Labor Code provides that a person who performs voluntary service without pay for a public agency as designated and authorized by the governing body of the agency or its designee, shall, upon adoption of a resolution by the governing body of the agency so declaring, be deemed to be an employee of the agency for the purpose of Division 4 of said Labor Code while performing such services; and WHEREAS Section 3363.5 of the Labor Code defines "voluntary service without pay" to include those services performed by any person who receives no remuneration other 19 than meals, transportation, lodging or reimbursement for 20 incidental expenses; and 21 WHEREAS the Mayor and Common Council wish to extend 22 Workers' Compensation coverage as provided by State law to 23 those persons providing voluntary services without pay work- 24 study and intern services to the City; 25 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Mayor and Common 26 Council of the City of San Bernardino, as follows: 27 That persons who perform voluntary service without pay, 28 work-study and interns be deemed to be employees of the city of San Bernardino for the purpose of Workers' Compensation .' 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 o '" V coverage as provided in Division 4 of the Labor Code while performing such service. This does not make a volunteer, a work-study and intern an employee of the city for any purpose other than such coverage, nor grant nor enlarge upon any other right, duty or responsibility of a volunteer, work-study and The Workers' Compensation benefits to volunteers, work-study and interns shall be benefits provided by state law and shall not include additional benefits as may be provided by city to employees. I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing resolution was duly adopted by the Mayor and Common council of the City of San Bernardino at a meeting thereof, held on the day of , 1991, by the following vote intern. to with: be provided to limited to the any its Council Members: AYES NAYS ABSENT ESTRADA RILEY FLORES MAUDSLEY MINOR POPE-LUDLAM MILLER City Clerk 2 ,', 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 RESOLUTIO~CLARING THAT VOLUNTEERS,~RK-STUDY AND INTERNS SHALL BE ED TO BE EMPLOYEES OF THt jITY FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING RKERS' COMPENSATION COVERA~ FOR SAID VOLUNTEERS, WORK-STUDY AND INTERNS WHILE PROVIDING THEIR SERVICES. The foregoing resolution is hereby approved this day of , 1991. W. R. HOLCOMB, MAYOR City of San Bernardino Approved as to form and legal content: JAMES F. PENMAN City fl'ttorney , il By ikt-z.-.,.,?- )'t;~ o 3