ITEM:            CONSENT ITEM

                                   

5.         CONSIDER FUNDING FOR STAFF SECURITY AND SAFETY TRAINING

 

Meeting Date:           December 15, 2003                Budgeted:  Yes

Program/Line Item No.:  FY 2003-2004

Staff Contact:             Cynthia Schmidlin                  Budget - Staff Development

                                                                                    Cost Estimate:  $3,000

 

General Counsel Approval:  NA

Committee Recommendation: The Administrative Committee reviewed this item on December 9, 2003 and recommended approval.

CEQA Compliance:  N/A


SUMMARY: Guidelines set by the California Occupational Health Authority (CAL/OSHA) cite workplace violence as a serious occupational health problem.  CAL/OSHA requires employers to provide training and instruction regarding the recognition of security hazards, measures to prevent workplace assaults and what to do when an assault occurs, including emergency action and post-emergency procedures. Padgett Thompson and National Seminars Group has designed an on-site training program for the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District that fulfills CAL/OSHA requirements. 

In addition to providing an excellent general overview on the subject of workplace violence, this training will examine specific situations encountered by District employees.  It will address unique safety concerns faced by staff dealing with the public both in District offices and on private property, sometimes in remote areas.  The training will also offer instruction on security measures and emergency planning for 5 Harris Court.

 

The training has been broken down into two 3-hour sessions of seven modules each. (Exhibit 5-A) Session One provides general security and safety training that should be attended by all District Employees.  Session Two is aimed primarily at those employees who engage in regular customer service work and conduct business away from the office. 

 

RECOMMENDATION: Authorize the expenditure of funds for staff security and safety training. This item was considered by the Administrative Committee on December 9, 2003, at which time the Committee voted 2 to 0 to recommend approval.      

 

IMPACT ON STAFF AND RESOURCES:  Funds totaling $38,100 are included in FY 2003-2004 Budget for Staff Development. $35,543 of that amount was available as of October 31, 2003.

 

BACKGROUND:  The Monterey Peninsula Water Management District has long recognized the importance of maintaining a safe and violence-free workplace. The District adopted a Violence in the Workplace policy as part of its Illness and Injury Prevention Policy in l997. Workplace violence training was last held in December l997. New training was recommended in a recent agency audit by The Special Districts Risk Management Authority, the District’s liability and worker’s compensation insurance provider.

 

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