HomeMy WebLinkAboutSOG 108.02 REVISED 6-2017_Injury Reporting108.02 — Injury Reporting
Effective. 6/1/1999
Revised: 6/5/2017
Replaces: SOG 108.01 A 1 "�
I. Guiding PhilosophX
Safety and accident prevention is everyone's job. National occupational safety and health
standards have traditionally held that roughly 95% of all workplace accidents are
by someone (by their action or inaction) at the employee, supervisor, manager, and/or at the
organizational level. We are committed to working together and doing our best to:
10 Minimize accidents, injuries and exposures.
10 Create and sustain a "11'lllllllllNIK WSJ 1FIE11VI1 IFIlllS`11' culture based on our managed -risk
philosophy.
II. Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to provide standard guidelines for the reporting, review and
subsequent corrective action recommendations for on- and off-duty injuries.
III. Goals
The goals of this policy are to:
A. Describe the off- and on -duty injury reporting processes and related
responsibilities.
B. Provide guidance relative to available consequence options for corrective action
lli lli�,llV�n 1EN.° .' 1..31llVEn injuries.
and/or disciplinary recommendations for?
IV. Definitions
A. Accident — Damage or injury that occurs because of a risk that is poorly managed.
B. Accountability — The obligation of an individual or organization to account for
and justify one's actions and/or decisions, to accept responsibility and associated
consequences, and to disclose the outcomes in a transparent manner.
C. Aggravating Factors — Any facts regarding the circumstances surrounding an
accident, injury or exposure that may increase responsibility for the occurrence.
D. Damage — Cost of medical treatment + Cost of repairs + Cost of lost time.
E. Duty Period — Shift that an individual was working (8 -hour, 10 -hour, 12 -hour,
24-hour)
F. Fit for Duty — An individual is in a physical, mental, and emotional state which
enables him/her to perform the essential tasks of his/her work assignment in a
manner which does not threaten the safety or health of oneself, co-workers,
property, or the public at large.
G. Immediate Supervisor — Person who was directly responsible for supervising the
injured individual at the time the injury/accident occurred.
H. Lost Time Iniury — Injury sustained by an employee that will ultimately lead to
the loss of productive work time in the form of worker delays or absenteeism.
L Maior Iniuries — Those injuries requiring hospital admittance (firefighters or
citizens).
Minor Iniuries — Those injuries to persons that require first aid only.
K. Mitigating Factors — Any facts regarding the circumstances surrounding an
accident, injury or exposure that may decrease responsibility for the occurrence.
L. Moderate Iniuries —Those injuries that require the fire fighter to miss more than
one Duty Period.
M. Occurrence — Single case or instance (of an accident, injury or occupational
exposure).
N. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) — Specialized clothing or equipment
worn by an employee for protection against a hazard.
O. Preventable — When an individual, group or supervisor(s):
1. Commits errors and/or fails to react reasonably to the errors of others.
2. Should have known about a potential hazard, but didn't.
Have some responsibility for either:
a. Causing,
b. Failing to prevent, and/or
c. Contributing to an injury or accident occurrence.
P. Reportable Iniury —Injury that requires first aid treatment, treatment by a
physician, causes noticeable discomfort and/or physical restrictions, or that may
result in lost time.
SOG 108.2 —Injury Reporting Page 2 of 9
Q. Serious Iniury - May include, but is not limited to:
1. Death
2. Major Trauma (burns, amputation, head trauma, broken bones, severe
cuts)
3. Major back or j oint injury
4. Paralysis
5. Sudden loss of sight or hearing
6. Serious occupational disease (TX Gov't Code, Title 6, Chapter 607)
R. TCFP Investigable Injuries - Injuries resulting from the malfunction of personal
protective equipment, failure of personal protective equipment to protect the fire
fighter from injury, or injuries sustained from failure to comply with any
provision of Commission mandated department SOGs.
V. Off -Duty Iniury Reporting & Responsibilities
A. In the event a member suffers an off-duty injury which results in any restrictions
on his/her ability to perform required duties, he/she will electronically submit the
completed �u �_ll��.:::::�V�" :��� '...A(3,31�!llV�n RT .....INJIJll� '.... �1��� �I��llV�n �VllV�n �T form to his/her
Deputy Chief (copy the email to the Administration & Operation Section
secretaries.)
B. If the injury causes the member to be off work for more than two (2) working
days, he/she will submit doctor's excuses per R&R 103.03—Sick & Off -Duty
Injury Leave.
C. Members who are capable of modified duty may be reassigned to a short term
restricted duty assignment per SOG 104.02—Modified Duty Assignments.
VI. On -Duty Iniury Reporting & Responsibilities
A. When a member experiences a Reportable Injury on -duty, he/she shall report the
injury to his/her Immediate Supervisor.
B. The Immediate Supervisor will insure all injuries are immediately reported via
phone or radio to the Fire -EMS Communications Center. At a minimum, the
initial report should include the following:
1. Unit identification or apparatus number.
SOG 108.2 -Injury Reporting Page 3 of 9
2. Injury/accident location and number of persons injured.
3. An indication of the need for additional medical assistance.
4. An estimate of the extent and nature of injuries and/or property damage.
5. Indication of the need to cover assignments.
C. The Immediate Supervisor will insure:
1. Immediate action and precautions are taken to prevent further injury.
2. An initial report is provided to Fire -EMS Communications. Additional
resources are requested, as needed.
a. Appropriate medical care is deployed, as required.
b. Law enforcement is deployed, if required.
c. If not already on an event, direct Fire -EMS Communications to
generate an event for the unit that the member was assigned to
at the time of the occurrence.
3. If the injury is the result of an accident, the site is secured as necessary.
a. Have all unnecessary or uninvolved persons leave the area.
b. If necessary, block off the area with rope or tape.
c. Assure that evidence that may be related to the accident is not
tampered with.
d. Allow only authorized persons to re-enter the site.
4. The member's on -duty Deputy Chief is notified of the injury/accident.
5. An initial fact -gathering related to the events leading up to the injury is
initiated. Fact -gathering should attempt to uncover:
a. The cause(s) of the injury/accident.
b. The relevant events leading up to the injury/accident.
c. Unsafe conditions which contributed to the injury/accident.
d. Actions of the member which may have contributed to the
injury/accident.
SOG 108.2 —Injury Reporting Page 4 of 9
e. List of witnesses to the injury/accident.
f Instruct each witness to prepare comprehensive and detailed the
On -Duty Accident/Injury/Exposure Supplemental Statement of
how the injury/accident/exposure occurred, and their
involvement.
g. As feasible and appropriate:
1. Physically survey and sketch the site where the
injury/accident took place.
2. Take documentary photographs.
h. Recommendations to prevent a similar injury/accident from
recurring in the future.
D. After the situation is under control, the Immediate Supervisor will insure:
1. Appropriate documentation has been accurately completed and promptly
submitted. If an injury occurs that requires first aid, treatment by a
physician or results in lost time, the following forms must be completed:
a.
(Completed by Immediate Supervisor)
b. INJURY INVESTIGATION IO BlIEl"OBT
(Completed by Immediate Supervisor)
c. N -111A1) .�. A4'41I13NE ",I I--N--JI i 11 11 .1110SU IM
----------------
SIS
(Completed by Injured Member(s) and Each Witness)
2. F]1 _11lflI[`10 11111 (including associated; ASUA1�' 1 _11 1E P , _111111 for
injured persons) are completed.
3. Appropriate vehicular accident and witness reports, if applicable.
4. Report packet is submitted to the Deputy Chief ASS A
P! 101 1 11 1 (prior to the end of his/her shift.)
E. The Deputy Chief on -duty will insure:
1. He/she responds to the scene of the injury, if necessary.
2. Appropriate emergency notifications are made, based on the severity of
the situation.
SOG 108.2 —Injury Reporting Page 5 of 9
All required documentation is completed and accurate, that deficiencies
are corrected, and that reports are submitted to Fire Headquarters .0
IATiaM ill UAN I'll 11� NUT BIBS iNIll BAY.
.........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
4. Member(s) who take leave to complete the shift after an injury/accident
occurs are properly coded, based on the circumstances surrounding the
accident.
F. The Operations Section Chief will insure:
1. Documentation packet is complete and any discrepancies are corrected.
2. On -duty injury packets are compiled and reviewed per SOG 108.01
Safety Committee Accident/Injury/Exposure Review.
3. Documentation is properly entered/scanned into the established systems
(Laserfiche, MS Excel workbooks, NFIRS reporting, etc.)
4. Notification of the Logistics Section Chief if injuries resulted from
malfunction of PPE or other safety equipment.
On -duty injury trends are identified and appropriate follow-up actions
are taken.
G. The Fire Chief will insure:
Adherence to City Policy 3.6—Worker's Compensation/Accident
Reporting.
2. TCFP injury reporting requirements are followed (See Appendix B).
3. Liaison with City Human Resources on worker's compensation issues.
4. On -duty injury packets are compiled and reviewed per SOG 108.01
Safety Committee Accident/Injury/Exposure Review.
5. This policy is reviewed and updated as required.
A Options for Corrective Action and/or Disciplinary Recommendations
A. Retraining is an example of remedial corrective action, and is not considered
discipline. Remedial corrective actions may be recommended alone, or in
conjunction with, discipline.
B. Members should be aware discipline can be imposed when violations of civil
service law and/or rules, or department rules, regulations or guidelines are
sustained, regardless of the disposition of alleged criminal charges.
SOG 108.2 –Injury Reporting Page 6 of 9
C. Violations and corresponding corrective actions and/or minimum recommended
discipline are indicated in Appendix A. Consequence recommendations for fourth
and subsequent accidents will be considered on a case by case basis.
D. Mitigating and aggravating factors are those which would cause employees to
deviate, in an exaggerated manner, from normal behavior. In these cases, the
factors involved will be considered by the Investigator, the Safety Committee and
the Disciplinary Review Board (DRB).
1. If the Safety Committee and/or DRB determine that sufficient cause
exists, these factors may be cited to recommend corrective actions and/or
discipline outside of the established discipline levels.
2. Deviation from normal disciplinary levels will be the exception to the rule
and will be limited to rare and unusual situations.
3. If the Safety Committee and/or DRB use aggravating or mitigating factors
to deviate, they shall provide written explanation to the Fire Chief.
E. Per civil service law, suspensions in excess of 15 days are offered at the discretion
of the Fire Chief, and are not subject to appeal. Any offers that are refused will
revert to indefinite suspension.
SOG 108.2 - Injury Reporting Page 7 of 9
Appendix A — Consequence Matrix—Injury Violations
Consequence Matrix—Injury Violations
(Per civil service law, suspensions are in calendar days)
*Maximum consequence is up to and including indefinite suspension, based on the circumstances.
Violation
First Offense
Second Offense
Third Offense
Gross disregard of safety procedures
Indefinite
n/a
n/a
resulting in major injury to person(s)
Suspension
On -duty injury or Worker's Compensation
Indefinite
n/a
n/a
Fraud/Falsification of injury information
Suspension
Failure to properly secure apparatus or
Fifteen (15) day
Thirty (30) day
Sixty (60) day
equipment resulting in major injury to self or
others
suspension
suspension
suspension
Failure to complete routine safety checks of
Ten(10)da y
Twenty20 da
( ) y
Fort da
y (40 ) y
vehicles or equipment, resulting in major
injury to self or others
suspension
suspension
suspension
Ilii"Ili'"II li"" 1IIIIIh major injury to self or
Four(4)day
Eight (8) day
Twelve (12) day
others
suspension
suspension
suspension
Ilii"Ili'"III;UN'T IIRII IE moderate injury to self or
Two (2) day
Four(4)day
Eight (8) day
others
suspension
suspension
suspension
Failure to properly supervise members
Written
One (1) day
Two (2) day
assigned under his/her supervision
Reprimand
suspension
suspension
Ilii"Ili'"Ill 11"" 1IIIllllll minor injury to self or
Written
One (1) day
Counseling
others
Reprimand
suspension
Written
One (1) day
Failure to immediately report personal injury
Counseling
Reprimand
suspension
Written
One (1) day
Failure to utilize or to properly utilize PPE
Counseling
Reprimand
suspension
*Examples cited above are not all inclusive and as such are not limited to those listed above.
SOG 108.2 —Injury Reporting Page 8 of 9
Appendix B —TCFP Injury Reporting Requirements
All on -duty Texas Workers' Compensation Commission reportable injuries will be
reported using the'1� � �_��..11��_ 10 01 SYSI'EM based on the following:
Injuries that result in the fire fighter missing Within 30 business
ONE I1H)"11 IIP"Ill.;lllf11011) ILIESS days of injury event
Injuries that require the fire fighter to miss
MlllfllE THAN ONE IIHYTY IIP"Ill.;lllf11011)
Involve the Within 5 Ibusiness
IlFAIIllLUlllfIE 01F 11111A."'TUIII AIL Ilirllllllfllllllirlllf llif" li f Ili Ili IIII days of injury event
All
111"'Ill111 III VIll.RYIlIGAIKIlLllE III JUlllflllllES'
The department shall secure any PPE involved in a fire fighter injury and it shall be
made available to the Commission for inspection.
1TCFP Investigable Injuries — Injuries resulting from the malfunction of personal protective equipment,
failure of personal protective equipment to protect the firefighter from injury, or injuries sustained
from failure to comply with any provision of Commission -mandated department SOGs.
TCFP Zero -Tolerance Violations — includes injuries resulting from violations of the
following TCFP-mandated standard operating guidelines:
1. SOG 201.01— Local ICS and NIMS
2. SOG 202.01— 2-In/2-Out & IDLH Operations
3. SOG 303.01— Personnel Accountability System
4. SOG 303.04 — Use of PPE/SCBA/PASS
5. SOG 601.01— Inspection & Maintenance of Structural Firefighting PPE
6. SOG 601.02— Inspection & Maintenance of SCBA/PASS
SOG 108.2 —Injury Reporting Page 9 of 9