SECTION FIFTEEN - EMERGENCIES AND ACCIDENTS
A. Accident: Employees involved in a traffic accident while on duty are required to notify law enforcement (city police, County sheriff, or highway patrol), the employee’s immediate supervisor and the County Risk Manager immediately, or as soon as practical, to report the accident and fill out necessary accident forms. For clarity, an accident is defined as “an unfortunate or negligent event resulting from carelessness, unawareness, ignorance or a combination of causes.” An incident is defined as “wear and tear that can be expected on a vehicle or equipment through normal usage.” It is the employee’s responsibility to secure the names and addresses of any witnesses in addition to requesting the other party to prepare a statement to be written and delivered to the County Risk Management Manager. Notification to the supervisor, the proper accident reports, and related information should be expedited to enable the timely filing of insurance claims.
1. Failure to notify law enforcement, the supervisor and/or County Risk Manager of a traffic accident immediately shall result in a reprimand or other disciplinary action
2. Depending upon the seriousness of the accident in which the employee is involved and the causation for such an accident, the employee job status and compensation could be affected through reassignment, reclassification, demotion, or dismissal. Employees who have their driver license suspended or revoked who are no longer able to perform the essential functions of the job may be placed up leave without pay or be terminated. Each situation shall be given case-by-case consideration and employees so affected may appeal through the established grievance procedure.
3. Drug and alcohol testing will occur when an employee has been involved in an on duty accident if by observation of the employee and the circumstances of the accident reasonable could indicate violation of the County’s drug policy (see Appendix A, Drug Free Work Place Policy, Section C, Drug and Alcohol Testing).
B. Vehicle Safety & Operator Guidelines: San Juan County has established standard operating procedures with regard to the operation of office/department vehicles and equipment. These guidelines include, but are not limited to mandatory use of seat belts (driver and all passengers), driver safety training, etc. Non-compliance by employees with established standard operating procedures may be grounds for disciplinary action. All employees who operate County vehicles must complete driver safety within one (1) year or hire date. Additionally, County procedures relative to vehicle operation and safety are contained within the “San Juan County Safety Manual”, which combined with this policy, constitutes the complete County vehicle and safety program.
C. Providing Assistance to Stranded Motorists: San Juan County employees may assist stranded motorists on state or County highways or in other areas of County, only through the following methods:
1. Stopping to ask if assistance is necessary.
2. By contacting the road office or law enforcement via mobile phone or radio, requesting an ambulance, police and/or wrecker service. Also, a courtesy telephone call can be made to another party in which assistance could be delivered to the stranded party.
3. County employees should not use County vehicles or equipment to pull out private vehicles that are stuck, make or assist with repairs to private vehicles, provide fuel to private vehicles, tow vehicles to any location, etc. if there is a life threatening situation, employees may use County vehicles or equipment to move or assist vehicle, at the scene or to prevent further damage or injury.
4. While it is understood that with some assistance, motorist may be able to continue, there are private companies that are in business to provide these types of services and the County should not be in competition with such businesses. County employees, especially those with mobile phones and radios, should assist as possible, in accordance with this policy.
5. This policy is not intended to eliminate those duties that are regularly performed by law enforcement officer and emergency response team operations. The policy is not intended to eliminate or alter the operating procedures of the Sheriff’s Office in regards to the call out of wrecker services, etc.
D. Emergency Call Out: San Juan County employees who willingly respond to emergency response during non-scheduled work hours in which the employees are not performing their normal or routine County jobs for which they are hired, will be paid at the rate of $8.50 per hour and any hours worked that created overtime will be paid at $12.75 per hour. This rate may be adjusted from time to time. If, however, employee are called out to perform him/her regular job duties, such employees will be paid his/her regular wage at regular and overtime rates.
E. Personal Safety: San Juan County employees are the most valuable asset the County has. It is not the intent of the County to have an employee work in harm’s way. It is therefore the policy of San Juan County that each employee be accountable for their own actions with regard to personal safety. Each employee is expected to work in a safe manner, using reasonable precautions to care not only for themselves but for the tools and equipment that they have been assigned to use.
1. Cell Phone Use: While operating a County vehicle it is impermissible for a County employee to use his/her County issued or private call phone to call or text. Shall an accident occur where a cell phone is suspected to have nee in use prior to or during the accident, San Juan County has the right to view the phone to obtain information or subsequently obtain records pertaining to the phones use.
