Jefferson County supervisors adopt slip‑resistant footwear policy to secure grant funding

Jefferson County supervisors voted to adopt a countywide slip‑resistant footwear usage policy recommended by the county safety committee, clearing the way to pursue grant funding that would cover initial footwear purchases.

The policy, drafted as a countywide umbrella and intended to be adapted by individual departments, was presented to supervisors as a way to reduce slips, trips and falls and to qualify Jefferson County for grant funding administered by the Iowa Municipalities Workers’ Compensation Association (IMWCA). Committee members and department heads debated operational impacts for EMS, road crews and corrections staff and raised concerns about discipline language for noncompliance before putting the item to a vote.

IMWCA representative Stacy, who joined the meeting by phone, said the program is designed to fund initial footwear purchases and pay vendors directly if a county adopts the required policy. "We will actually turn the check around to the vendor," Stacy said, and she cited a northwest Iowa study used to develop the program. She added that participating counties that engage with IMWCA prevention activities are not removed from coverage and that the study showed weather‑related slips declined among participants. Stacy told the committee the county was facing a pending open claim "to the tune of $3,380,000," an example she used to stress prevention and mitigation.

Supervisors discussed options for implementing the policy locally: department managers would choose footwear models appropriate to job duties, and departments could adopt stricter rules where needed. They also debated language that classifies failure to comply as a violation; committee members clarified discipline would normally apply only after repeated, individual noncompliance or repeated claims tied to an employee’s conduct.

After discussion about replacement schedules and long‑term costs (initial purchase eligibility rests with IMWCA if the policy is adopted), a supervisor moved to adopt the policy as written and another seconded the motion. The supervisors conducted a voice vote; the chair announced the motion passed and the transcript records the passage as unanimous.

Following the vote, committee members noted next steps: procurement of product samples or demos for operational units, department‑level implementation plans, and follow‑up on replacement and budgeting for subsequent years. The safety committee agreed to work with department managers to specify models and to return with feedback on feasibility and cost for replacement supplies.