TFD Safety Committee: Composition and Responsibilities

Overview

• Establishes TFD's policy on the composition and responsibilities of the Safety Committee
• Procedures are included
• Applies to ALL TFD Personnel
• Replaces the previous version of this policy.
• Associated form: Supervisor’s Report of Incident or Injury (HRE 002)
• Refer to TFD Incident Management System (IMS) Plan, TFD Policy 1010: Counseling, TFD Policy 1011: Discipline, TFD Policy 2019: Two In/Two Out, TFD Safety Policies: 5000 series for information

Responsibilities of the Fire Chief or Designee

• Monitoring the effectiveness of TFD’s overall safety profile
• Reviewing Safety Committee meeting minutes plus all submitted reports and recommendations
• Responding to an employee who submitted a written safety suggestion/complaint to the Safety Committee

Responsibilities Safety Battalion Chief or Designee

• Performing primary review of Safety Committee meeting minutes and all reports and recommendations submitted
• Attending Safety Committee meetings if needed
• Serving as Chair of the Safety Committee
• Providing Safety Committee approved minutes to the Fire Chief
• Maintaining this policy documentation

Responsibilities of the Safety Captain or Designee

• Responsible for issuing Bulletins with Safety Committee meeting minutes
• Forwarding Safety Committee recommendations to the Safety Battalion Chief

Responsibilities of the TFD Station Captains and Supervisors

• Ensure the current Bulletin concerning Safety Committee meeting minutes are conspicuously posted on the Safety Bulletin Board

Responsibilities of All TFD Personnel

• Immediately notify his/her supervisor about any safety concerns
• Contact the Safety Division if his/her safety concerns remain unresolved or to determine safety issues
• Submit safety suggestions or complaints in writing to the Safety Committee

Definitions

• Memorandum: A written document referring to a specific subject

References

• WAC 296-305, Washington State Safety Standards for Firefighters

Rules for Composition of the Safety Committee

• It consists of the Safety Battalion Chief who is the Chair, the Safety Captain, Representatives from Administration, and Representatives from Labor
• Each division of TFD should have representation
• The number of members designated from Labor should equal the number of members selected from Administration
• The number of voting members designated from Labor shall not be less than the number of members designated by Administration
• Incident Safety Officers (ISO) shall attend Safety Committee meetings when on duty

Safety Committee Functions

• Serves in an advisory role to the Fire Chief
• Promotes and publicizes TFD employee safety
• Reviews HRE 002 reports
• Assists TFD’s efforts to formulate a proactive accident prevention program
• Reviews reports of injury to determine means of eliminating accidents and hazards
• Monitors the effectiveness of TFD’s Safety Program
• Reviews written safety suggestions and complaints submitted by TFD employees
• After review of an employee suggestion/complaint, forwards a written recommendation to the Fire Chief in memorandum format

Safety Committee Meetings

• Meets the first Tuesday of each month
• Meets for at least one hour per quarter
• A quorum of at least five committee members, including the Chair, must be present
• Special meetings may be held at Labor or Administration request
• The Safety Office or person designated by the Safety Committee Chair will record the minutes of each meeting
• Safety Committee meeting minutes are distributed in Bulletin form to the Fire Chief, all TFD stations and facilities for posting on the Safety Bulletin Board, and the City Safety Office