HomeMy WebLinkAboutSafety_Standards_Code_Enforcement_Officer_ CITY OF LAKE ELSINORE
Code Enforcement Officer Safety Standards
February 13, 2024
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Policy..........................................................................................................................................1
Workplace Security Safe Work Practices....................................................................................1
Workplace Risk Assessment.......................................................................................................1
Engineering and Administrative Controls.....................................................................................2
Personal Protective Equipment & Other Safety Devices .............................................................2
Training.......................................................................................................................................3
Emergenciesand Reporting........................................................................................................4
Post Incident Response and Investigation...................................................................................4
Recordkeeping............................................................................................................................5
AnnualReview............................................................................................................................5
Appendix
A. Workplace Violence Incident Log
B. Workplace Security Assessment & Control Checklist
C. Job Hazard Analysis for Personal Protective Equipment Assessment
Policy
The City of Lake Elsinore is committed to providing a safe work environment for its Code
Enforcement Officers. Our policy is to establish, implement, and maintain an effective Injury and
Illness Prevention Program as required by Title 8, California Code of Regulations, &3203, and
establish minimum Code Enforcement Officer Safety Standards as required by SB 296. These
standards will be appropriate for the officers within our jurisdiction.
These Code Enforcement Officer Safety Standards are available upon request for examination
and copying to our employees, their representatives, the Chief of Cal/OSHA, or their designee.
Workplace Security Safe Work Practices
To reduce the potential for incidents of workplace violence, Code Enforcement staff will follow
the safe work practices listed below:
• Staff shall eliminate all distractions and not do anything that will preoccupy them with
safety, making observations, and interacting with the public.
• Staff shall ensure they always identify an escape route when entering a building or other
worksite.
• Staff shall be alert for warning signs of aggression from people and animals.
• Body language, choice of words, and tone shall be used to de-escalate a potentially
hostile situation.
• If de-escalation is ineffective, staff shall end the communication and immediately leave
the area.
• Staff are expected to know their location and must be able to report it in the case of an
emergency.
• Suppose staff observes an immediate or direct threat to life. In that case, they shall take
immediate steps to ensure their safety and the safety of others, which may include using
a reasonable amount of force necessary to mitigate the threat and allow for evacuation
or escape from the area. Such action shall be reported to law enforcement and a
supervisor as soon as it is safe.
• Field staff are encouraged to work in pairs and/or collaborate with local law enforcement.
• Staff are required to immediately report all security or safety issues to a supervisor,which
may include a written report.
Workplace Risk Assessment
A workplace risk assessment will be completed before assigning Code Enforcement Officers to
field duties. This assessment will include two primary components:
1. Workplace Security Assessment
2. General Employee Safety Assessment
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The workplace security assessment will include an assessment of the tasks and exposures that
could create the potential for incidents of workplace violence, which could result in attacks on
Code Enforcement Officers by other people or animals.
The Workplace Security Assessment (Appendix B) can assist with the security assessment.
Inspections are performed according to the following schedule:
• Once a year;
• When new, previously unidentified workplace violence/security hazards are recognized
and
• When workplace violence injuries or threats of injury occur.
The general safety assessment will include an assessment of all other tasks and exposures that
could result in occupational injuries and illnesses, such as strains/sprains, chemical exposures,
repetitive motion injuries, etc. The Job Hazard Analysis Form for Personal Protective Equipment
(Appendix C) can be completed to conduct this assessment.
Engineering and Administrative Controls
The City of Lake Elsinore will implement engineering and administrative controls to reduce the
potential for incidents of workplace violence. The following protocols will be implemented:
Based on completing the workplace risk assessment, list the engineering and administrative
controls that will be implemented.
• Staff will avoid in-person visits with potentially hostile persons by scheduling phone or
virtual meetings;
• Staff will coordinate and schedule on-site visits with the local police or sheriffs department,
and they will be on scene when visits and inspections are conducted;
• Two Code Enforcement Officers will be assigned to all on-site visits in high-crime areas
or areas with potentially hostile persons.
Personal Protective Equipment & Other Safety Devices
The City of Lake Elsinore will utilize personal protective equipment (PPE) and other safety
devices. The following protocols will be implemented:
Based on completing the workplace risk assessment, the list of types of personal protective
equipment that will be provided.
• Ballistic vests (mandatory or voluntary)
• Pepper spray (mandatory or voluntary)
• Latex gloves (mandatory or voluntary)
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• Kevlar gloves (mandatory or voluntary)
• Police Radio (mandatory)
• City-issued cell phones (mandatory)
• Flashlight (voluntary)
• N-95 respirators (mandatory or voluntary)
Training
The City of Lake Elsinore will provide employee training on the Code Enforcement Safety
Standards to all affected staff. Employee training will include:
• Code Enforcement Safety Standards;
• Workplace violence risks that employees may encounter in their jobs;
• How to recognize the potential for violence and escalating behavior;
• Strategies to de-escalate behaviors and to avoid physical harm;
• How to report incidents to their supervisor and law enforcement; and
• City of Lake Elsinore's Employee Assistance Program.
Employees assigned to field duties where they may encounter potentially violent individuals will
receive additional training that includes:
• General and personal safety measures;
• Aggression and violence predicting factors;
• The assault cycle;
• Characteristics of aggressive and violent patients and victims;
• Verbal intervention and de-escalation techniques and physical maneuvers to defuse and
prevent violent behavior;
• Strategies to prevent physical harm.
Training will occur:
• At the time of hire or transfer;
• Annually for employees performing field contact activities and their supervisors;
• When new equipment or work practices are introduced and
• When a new or previously unrecognized workplace violence hazard has been identified.
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Employees who receive training in a form other than live training will have the opportunity to meet
with someone knowledgeable on the Code Enforcement Safety Standards within three business
days of the training for interactive questions to be answered.
Emergencies and Reporting
Emergencies and Reporting a Crime
For immediate assistance in an emergency not associated with a service call, contact
emergency services or law enforcement by calling 911. For immediate assistance in an
emergency associated with a service call in progress, follow internal procedures for requesting
immediate backup assistance by notifying local law enforcement.
Reporting Workplace Violence Concerns
Employees who witness or experience threats of violence or workplace violence can report the
incident through their chain of command or directly to Human Resources. Employees may report
anonymously and without fear of reprisal by submitting the incident in writing through interoffice
mail.
Restraining Orders
Employees or other personnel affiliated with the City of Lake Elsinore who have an active
restraining order issued against another person, including the workplace, are encouraged to
provide a copy of the restraining order to their supervisor. Supervisors who receive notification
of a restraining order that includes the workplace will meet with the Human Resources Director
or highest-ranking Human Resources employee to decide what actions, if any, need to be
initiated.
Post-Incident Response and Investigation
Supervisors will use the Workplace Violence Incident Log (Attachment A) to assist in
documenting incidents and investigations.
The following procedures will occur following an incident:
• Provide immediate medical care or first aid;
• Identify all employees involved in the incident;
• Offer staff individual trauma counseling resources;
• Conduct a debriefing with all affected staff;
• Determine if corrective measures developed under this Program were effectively
implemented; solicit feedback from all personnel involved in the incident as to the cause
of this incident and if injuries occurred, how injury could have been prevented; and
• Record the incident in the Workplace Violence Incident Log.
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Recordkeeping
• Records of workplace security hazard assessment, evaluation, and correction will be
maintained for three years per the recordkeeping requirements of the City of Lake
Elsinore's Injury and Illness Prevention Program.
• Training for each employee, including the employee's name, training dates, type of
training, and training provider, will be maintained for at least three years.
• Records of violent incidents (Workplace Violence Incident Log) will be maintained for at
least five years.
Annual Review
City of Lake Elsinore's Code Enforcement Officer Safety Standards will be reviewed annually
and updated as needed considering the following criteria:
• Prior year incidents;
• Sufficiency of security-safe work practices;
• Sufficiency of PPE;
• Job, equipment, and facility design and risks;
• Modifications or additions to tasks and procedures that affect officer safety;
• Newly identified hazards;
• Identified deficiencies and
• Employees and their representatives provide feedback.
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Appendix A
WORKPLACE VIOLENCE INCIDENT LOG
This form must be completed for every record of violence in the workplace.
Incident ID#*: Date and Time of Incident: Department:
Specific Location of Incident:
*Do not identify employees by name,employee#,or SS1. The Incident ID must not reflect the employee's identity)
Describe Incident (Include additional pages if needed):
Assailant information:
❑ Resident/Homeowner ❑ Client ❑ Customer
❑ Family or Friend of Resident ❑ Family or Friend of Client ❑ Family or Friend of Customer
❑ Partner/Spouse of Victim ❑ Parent/Relative of Victim ❑ Co-worker/Supervisor/Manager
❑ Former Partner/Spouse of Victim ❑ Animal ❑ Person In Custody
❑ Robber/Burglar ❑ Passenger ❑ Stranger
❑ Student ❑ Other:
Circumstances at time of incident:
❑ Employee Performing Normal Duties ❑ Poor Lighting ❑ Employee Rushed
❑ Employee Isolated or Alone ❑ High Crime Area ❑ Low Staffing Level
❑ Unable to Get Help or Assistance ❑ Working in a Community Setting ❑ Unfamiliar or New Location
❑ Other:
Location of Incident:
❑ Personal Residence ❑ Apartment Building ❑ Hallway
❑ Public or Private Street ❑ Restroom or Bathroom ❑ Parking Lot or Outside Building
❑ Business or Commercial Property ❑ Breakroom ❑ Public Building
❑ Other:
Type of Incident(check as many apply):
❑ Robbery ❑ Grabbed ❑ Pushed
❑ Verbal Threat or Harassment ❑ Kicked ❑ Scratched
❑ Sexual Threat, Harassment,or Assault ❑ Hit with an Object ❑ Bitten
❑ Animal Attack ❑ Shot(or Attempted) ❑ Slapped
❑ Threat of Physical Force ❑ Bomb Threat ❑ Hit with Fist
❑ Threat of Use of Weapon or Object ❑ Vandalism(of Victim's Property) ❑ Knifed(or Attempted)
❑ Assault With A Weapon or Object ❑ Vandalism(of Employer's Property) ❑ Arson
❑ Robbery ❑ other:
Consequences of incident:
Medical care provided?❑Yes❑ No Law enforcement called?❑Yes❑no Security contacted?❑Yes❑ No
Did anyone assist in concluding the event?❑Yes❑ No Days lost from work(if any)
Actions taken by employers to protect employees from a continuing threat?❑Yes❑ No
Completed by:
Name: Title: Fe:
Telephone: Email:
Signature:
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Appendix B
WORKPLACE SECURITY ASSESSMENT & CONTROL CHECKLIST
Assessed by: Title:
Location(s)Assessed:
This checklist is designed to evaluate the workplace and job tasks to help identify situations that may place
employees at risk of workplace violence.
Step 1: Identify risk factors that may increase the City of Lake Elsinore's vulnerability to workplace violence
events
Step 2: Conduct a workplace assessment to identify physical and process vulnerabilities
Step 3: Develop a corrective action plan with measurable goals and target dates
STEP 1: IDENTIFY RISK FACTORS
Does staff work alone? If yes, how often do
they work alone?
Is the workplace located in an area with a
high crime rate?
Does staff enter areas with high crime rates?
Does staff perform public safety functions
that might put them in conflict with others?
Does staff perform duties that may upset
people?
Does staff ever have to obtain inspection
and/or abatement warrants? If yes, does
staff coordinate with the police or sheriff's
department on contacting the occupant and
the best entry methods?
Is law enforcement always present when an
inspection warrant is served or executed?
Does staff work with people known or
suspected to have a history of violence?
Do any employees have a history of threats
of violence?
Are employees notified of past workplace
violence events?
Are incidents of workplace violence or
threats of violence reviewed on an annual
basis?
Does staff exchange money with the public?
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STEP 2: CONDUCT ASSESSMENT
Security Measures
Yes No Potential Recommendations
Is there a response plan for workplace
violence emergencies?
Can staff avoid in-person visits with
potentially hostile persons by scheduling
phone or virtual meetings?
Does law enforcement accompany staff on
calls?
Are staff provided with pepper spray? If yes,
have they been trained, and is there a
written pepper spray policy?
Is the use of pepper spray voluntary or
mandatory?
Are staff provided with ballistic vests? If yes,
is there a ballistic vest policy?
Is the use of ballistic vests voluntary or
mandatory?
Are staff provided with a police radio(Pac
set)or other communication device? If yes,
describe the communication device type and
the communication procedures.
Is using a police radio or other
communication device mandatory or
voluntary?
Are staff provided with City-issued cell
phones? Is there a cell phone use policy?
Are there security cameras installed in
locations where staff works?
Are there panic buttons?
Are there alarm systems?
Are there personal alarm devices?
Is there security provided at locations where
staff works?
Is there a system to alert staff of a security
threat's presence, location, and nature?
Is there a system in place for testing security
measures? If yes,when was the last time a
security test was completed?
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STEP 3: DEVELOP CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN
ResponsibleAction Item Person(s) Target Status Comments
Date
Name of workplace: Location:
Workplace address: Job/task:
Assessment Date of
Conducted by: Signature: Assessment:
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Appendix C
JOB HAZARD ANALYSIS FOR PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
(JHA-PPE) ASSESSMENT
Job/Task Step Hazard Hazard Body Parts at Control Method*
Type Source Risk
*If feasible, Engineering, work practice,and/or administrative hazard controls before requiring employees to use personal protective
equipment.
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