News | Media |

Volunteer Management - Safety & Loss Control Procedures

Please reference these procedures frequently to assure your department is in compliance.

General Safety
Reporting an Injury
Workers' Compensation Program
Driving Overview
Hazard Communications Standard/Right-to-Know Law

General Safety

Volunteers must attend a county-conducted orientation which includes right-to-know guidelines, workers’ compensation procedures and information, Drug-Free Workplace Policy information and safety training and procedures.
Volunteers must be trained for the activities they will perform, including all safety requirements.
When personal protection equipment is required, the volunteer must be properly equipped by the department and trained in its use or the volunteer must provide his/her own equipment.
Volunteers must not knowingly be exposed to any unnecessary dangers or hazards in the workplace.
Volunteers must not perform any functions requiring a license or certification unless they have a current license or certification to do so.

Reporting an Injury

If a volunteer is injured while performing the assigned task, the following steps must be followed:

The supervisor shall be notified immediately.
The supervisor and volunteer must complete a First Report of Injury form and submit the form to Risk Management within 24 hours.
Even if the volunteer does not think medical attention is needed, the First Report of Injury form must be completed. If the volunteer should require medical attention at a later date, step one would be to contact the supervisor for assistance in selecting an authorized treating medical provider at that time.
REMEMBER, except in an emergency, the volunteer must receive medical care from an authorized provider. If you have questions regarding this policy, please contact Risk Management.
DO NOT MISS MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS. If the volunteer cannot attend a medical appointment, they must give the medical provider at least 24 hours notice and advise the supervisor of the changes. Failure to comply with this requirement could jeopardize their benefits.

Risk Management staff is available to assist regarding any questions regarding a work-related injury. Volunteers may contact Risk Management at (727) 464-3664.

return to top

Workers’ Compensation Program for Volunteers

Volunteers may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits, in accordance with Chapter 440, Florida Statues.

If an injury occurs, the volunteer site coordinator must be notified immediately. The volunteer site coordinator will direct the volunteer to a facility to receive prompt medical attention.

While it is important that volunteers receive appropriate medical care, responsibility for payment of medical bills will be determined by Risk Management.

For additional questions regarding workers’ compensation, contact the Risk Management staff at (727) 464-3664.

return to top

Driving Overview

A volunteer is permitted to operate a county motor vehicle only after successful review of the volunteer’s driving record and completion of training as required by Risk Management.
Volunteers cannot drive until notified by Risk Management that all driving qualification processes are successfully completed.
Once trained and certified, volunteers will be subject to a monthly review of their Florida driver license by Risk Management.
The standards for the monthly Florida driver license review will be the same as the initial review and any unacceptable driving record will result in the loss of the volunteer’s county driving privileges.
Volunteers are responsible to notify their volunteer site coordinator of any moving infraction within three business days, but no later than the next volunteer opportunity.
Motor Vehicle and Driver License Guidelines

Driving Categories for Volunteers

Risk Management has established four categories of certification for volunteers who are asked to operate county vehicles within the scope of their position guidelines. Volunteers in all four categories are required to have a valid Florida driver license.

Category 1

Volunteers who will use county-owned ATV’s, utility vehicles, mowers, golf carts or other non-registered motorized equipment, strictly within the confines of an enclosed county property, such as a park, or within a specific address

Category 2

Volunteers who will use county-owned sedans, vans, pick-ups or other registered motorized vehicles, strictly within the confines of an enclosed county property, such as a park, or within a specific address

Category 3

Volunteers who will use registered county-owned motorized vehicles, not only on county property, but also on public roads

Category 4

Volunteers whose driving duties will include transporting passengers, regardless of whether or not the vehicle operation takes place strictly on county property (restricted to county-owned vehicles with a capacity of fewer than 15 passengers)

Certifications must be obtained according to position guidelines and category. Volunteers who have not been properly certified by Risk Management must not operate county equipment or vehicles, regardless of what the position guidelines require.

Each successive certification must be completed in advance of the volunteer’s independent operation of county equipment or vehicles under each specific task or function.

Volunteers will not be certified to operate county-owned commercial motor vehicles (buses, etc.).

Transportation of Children

Operations involving the transportation of children as passengers shall never be carried out without at least two adults in the vehicle with at least one being an adult county employee. This restriction applies regardless of whether the employee or the volunteer is driving and regardless of the number of underage passengers in the vehicle.

return to top

Hazard Communications Standard/Right-to-Know Law (29 CFR 1910.1200) Introduction

Volunteers have a right to know about exposure to hazardous/toxic substances in the workplace. The county will provide volunteers with information about the hazardous/toxic substances with which they work and train volunteers in safe handling practices and emergency procedures.

This reference is an overview of the regulations concerning chemical safety. It is not intended to cover all the technical aspects involved.

Additional information is available by contacting:

Pinellas County Risk Management Department
400 South Fort Harrison Ave., 3rd Floor
Clearwater, FL 33756
(727) 464-3664

Definitions

Hazardous/Toxic Substance: Any chemical substance or mixture in a gaseous, liquid or solid state that can cause harm to humans or the environment

Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS):

A document containing information about the properties and hazards of a hazardous/toxic substance.

The information will include the chemical identity of the substance, physical and health hazards, the means by which the chemical may gain access to the body, safe handling and use, emergency and first aid procedures, and control measures.

Under the law, manufacturers, importers and distributors of hazardous/toxic substances are required to prepare and provide MSDSs to their purchasers.

County Responsibilities
It is the county’s responsibility to:

Identify and list the hazardous chemicals in the workplace

Obtain MSDSs and labels for all hazardous chemicals in the workplace

Develop and implement a written hazard communication program

Communicate hazard information to volunteers through labels, MSDSs, and formal training programs

Any county department that produces, uses or stores hazardous/toxic substances in the workplace is required to:

Post a notice, approved by the Risk Management Department, informing volunteers of their rights under the law

Obtain and maintain for a period of 30 years, the required Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for each hazardous/toxic substance present

Make the MSDSs available upon request to a volunteer within five working days

Provide instruction to volunteers, within their first 30 days of volunteer assignment, and at least annually thereafter, on the nature and effects of those hazardous/toxic substances with which they work

Advise volunteers of their right to obtain information from outside sources

Notify the local fire department of the location and names of certain hazardous/toxic substances present in the workplace.

Volunteers' Rights

Volunteers have the right to:

Know the hazardous/toxic substances present in the workplace

Obtain a copy of the Material Safety Data Sheet for any hazardous/toxic substance to which they may be exposed

Refuse to work with a hazardous/toxic substance if not provided a copy of the MSDS for that substance within five working days after submitting a written MSDS request to the supervisor

Receive instruction on the hazardous/toxic substance which must include:

The chemical and common names of the substance (with certain disclosure limitations for trade secrets)

The location of the substance in the workplace

Proper and safe handling practices

First aid treatment and antidotes in case of overexposure

The adverse effects of substance abuse

Appropriate emergency procedures

Proper procedures for clean-up of leaks or spills

Potential for flammability, explosion and reactivity

The rights of volunteers under all applicable laws

Obtain further information on the properties and hazards of toxic substances from outside sources

Protection against discharge, discipline or discrimination for having exercised any of these rights

return to top