Disciplinary Procedure - Safety Violations

Objective

Even the best safety program with strong commitment will be ineffective without enforcement through established disciplinary procedures. The Safety Director, Safety Committee and HR Dept. has the assigned duty to assure compliance with the company's safety program and has the authority necessary to enforce it. Violations will be dealt with in a firm, fair and consistent manner. Our enforcement system (SEE HR LINK) includes verbal, written, suspensions without pay and dismissal for those who do not comply.  With severe or gross misconduct or negligent employee may be dismissed without warning.

Things to Consider

Look at safety rule compliance in the same manner you would view other work activities. An employee who refused to perform a work required task would be fired. Safety violations must be handled in the same way. Refusing to use fall protection when company policy requires it is a flagrant violation of safety policy and comparable to ignoring work activity.

Field supervisors have the authority to assist in the enforcement of our company safety policy.  They are on-site and, in a position, to take corrective action. Field supervisors must always be aware of safety. If a disproportionate share of OSHA violations or incidents / accidents occurs on a job, it would probably be safe to say that safety practices are not a top priority on that job site.   In such cases, supervisors will be confronted, and appropriate corrections made.

Steps

Disciplinary Action   SEE HR LINK

 

Koester Construction supports the principle that there is no place for employees who will not work safely or that endangers their co-workers' and others' safety. Management must enforce this policy and, when necessary, take disciplinary action. Superintendents are required to enforce this policy with subcontractors.  In the event that an employee deliberately fails to follow or enforce the prescribed safe work procedure, or deliberately fails to use the prescribed safety equipment, their supervisor must apply the following actions:

First Violation - Written warning, a copy to Supervisor and Project Manager and to HR for employee's file.

 

Second Violation - One day off without pay for a second written warning within a twelve-month period, copy to Supervisor and Project Manager.

 

Third Violation - Termination of employment.

 

The Safety Director, Safety Committee or HR has the discretion to bypass any or all of the actions mentioned above and proceed to termination of employment if the nature of violation has serious enough consequence to cause the employee or his/her associate employee’s death or serious bodily harm.

All the above violations will be directly dealt with the Safety Director and HR department.