SECTION V: INCIDENT/LOSS REPORTING AND INVESTIGATION :
This policy shall govern general and specific procedures to be followed in incidents resulting in bodily injury or property damage from: 1) industrial accidents; 2) vehicular accidents; 3) incidents involving property; and 4) liability claims.
A. General Procedures For All Incidents:
1. Any time an incident causes injury that requires treatment by a physician, an Incident Report (attached hereto as Exhibit 2) shall be filed with the Risk Manager.
2. In the case of a fatality, or if two or more employees are hospitalized, or if an injury or illness requires inpatient hospitalization for a period in excess of 24 hours for other than medical observation or in which an employee suffers a loss of any member of the body or suffers any serious degree of permanent disfigurement, the immediate Supervisor shall be responsible for immediately reporting the accident to the Risk Manager and the nearest District Office of the Division of Occupational Safety and Health, (559) 445-5302. The report shall include the following information, if available:
(a) Time and date of accident;
(b) Employer’s name, address and telephone number;
(c) Name and job title of person reporting the accident;
(d) Address of site of accident or event;
(e) Name of person to contact at site of
accident;
(f) Name and address of injured employee;
(g) Nature of injury;
(h) Location where injured employee was moved;
(i) List and identify of law enforcement agencies present at incident site; and
(j) Description of accident and whether accident scene or instrumentality has been altered.
A written memorandum confirming the report shall be provided Risk Management.
3. Upon request of the County Counsel, through a form that preserves attorney/client privilege, the Risk Manager or his/her designee, shall investigate serious incidents as soon as possible after the incident has occurred. The depth of the investigation shall be commensurate with the severity of the incident.
4. All employees shall fully cooperate and assist in the investigation as needed.
5. Fact finding, not fault finding shall be emphasized in all investigative proceedings. However, discipline may be a necessary part of corrective action.
6. County employees involved in the incident and/or investigation shall not discuss details with anyone other than the immediate supervisor, Risk Manager, County Counsel, or law enforcement agency.
7. County employees shall refer any request for information, whether oral or written, regarding an incident that may result in liability to the County to Risk Management.
8. County employees shall not admit liability or state the County will take care of damages.
9. County employees shall report to his/her immediate supervisor(s) and Risk Management all incidents involving bodily injury or property damage as soon as possible and in no event later than the end of the immediate shift.
1. Industrial Injury - In the event of an on-the-job injury to an employee of the County:
(a) The injured employee shall be provided with an Employee's Claim for Workers' Compensation Benefits within one (l) working day of notice or knowledge of the injury. Employee Claim Forms are available at the following locations:
Independence - Personnel Department
224 North Edwards St.
Independence, CA
Bishop - Risk Management
163 May St.
Bishop, CA
Tecopa - Community Center
P. O. Box 158
Tecopa, CA
It shall be the responsibility of the immediate supervisor to see that this form is provided in a timely manner. This form need not be provided an employee with a first aid only injury defined as a one-time treatment of minor scratches, cuts, burns or splinters.
(b) The immediate supervisor shall be responsible for notifying Risk Management (760) 872-2908 as soon as possible and in no event later than the end of the immediate shift. If the supervisor is unable to reach Risk Management, he/she shall report the injury to the Personnel Department.
(c) A Supervisor's Report of Accident (attached hereto as Exhibit 3) shall be completed by the injured employee's immediate supervisor and forwarded to Risk Management within 48 hours of the incident.
(d) The immediate supervisor shall be responsible for having employees who witnessed the injury complete the Employee Witness Report (attached hereto as Exhibit 4) and forward to Risk Management within 48 hours of the accident.
(e) An employee injured on the job shall receive full wages for the date of the injury.
(f) The immediate supervisor shall be responsible for reporting to the nearest District Office of the Division of Occupational Safety and Health any reportable injury in accordance with Section V, subsection A. 2.
2. Vehicle Accident - In the event of a vehicle accident:
(a) The driver of the vehicle shall complete the Vehicle Accident Report (attached hereto as Exhibit 5). Copies of this form shall be kept in all County vehicles. This form shall be forwarded Risk Management within 48 hours of the accident.
(b) All minor vehicular collisions (defined as collisions not resulting in bodily injury or serious property damage) involving County vehicles or personal vehicles used on County business shall be reported by the involved employee to his/her immediate supervisor as soon as physically able and in no event later than the end of the immediate shift. The immediate supervisor shall be responsible for notifying Risk Management within 48 hours of the incident.
(c) In the event of an accident that results in bodily injury or serious property damage, the driver of the vehicle shall notify Risk Management as soon as possible and in no event later than the end of the immediate shift.
(d) All collisions involving County vehicles or personal vehicles on official business will be reported to and investigated by the appropriate police agency.
(e) The involved employee, if physically able, shall call for a police officer. The employee shall also request that all parties and properties concerned remain at the scene of the accident if possible until a law enforcement representative has released them.
3. Property Damage - In the event of an incident which results in property damage to County property or property owned by third parties:
(a) The employee shall complete the Incident Report (Exhibit 2) and forward to Risk Management within 48 hours of the incident. If the incident results in serious property damage (over $5,000) the employee shall notify Risk Management by telephone as soon as possible and in no event later than the end of the immediate shift.
4. Liability Claims - In the event of an incident, which may result in litigation against the County:
(a) The employee shall complete the Incident Report (Exhibit 2) and forward to Risk Management within 48 hours of the incident. In the event of a serious incident (death or serious injury to third party), Risk Management shall be contacted immediately by telephone.Previous Injury and Illness Prevention Plan Next
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Copyright © 2001 County of Inyo
Last Updated: October 13, 2005