Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the County Safety Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Pennington County adopts safety committee bylaws and county safety policy; departments to tailor policies
Summary
The Board adopted safety committee bylaws and a county safety policy directing departments to develop tailored policies within 365 days; the action is intended to reduce claims and lower insurance premiums via Safety Benefits program.
Pennington County commissioners on March 4 adopted formal bylaws for the county safety committee and a county safety policy establishing a framework for department-specific safety programs.
Risk manager Walter McDuff told the board the county had worked with its insurer and safety partner (Safety Benefits, Inc.) on a template but decided that county-wide one-size-fits-all documents were not practical. Instead the board approved bylaws for a safety committee and a policy that requires each department to develop tailored safety policies (for example lockout/tagout or confined-space procedures where relevant) within 365 days.
Why it matters: The county said adoption will help meet insurer expectations, reduce workplace injuries and lower premiums; the policy also clarifies the safety committee's role and requires department-level implementation rather than a blanket policy that would not fit all operations.
Formal actions: Motion to adopt safety committee bylaws (mover: Gary Drews; second: Drew Adcock) and motion to adopt Pennington County Safety Policy (mover: Jerry Durr; second: Hatcock). Both motions carried.
Implementation: Risk management will shepherd departmental policy development and return to the board as needed; Safety Benefits will provide templates and assessments. Commissioners asked for clarifications and practical tailoring to avoid duplication with accreditation requirements and existing department procedures.
