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Madeira Beach commission directs rebuild of safety, accident-prevention manual; HR director named lead
Summary
The Civil Service Commission instructed staff to rebuild the City of Madeira Beach Safety and Accident Prevention Manual to modernize technology and separate policy, procedures and training; the incoming HR director will lead the effort and priority interim controls will be reviewed immediately.
The Civil Service Commission in Madeira Beach on June 30 directed staff to rebuild the city’s Safety and Accident Prevention Manual, designate the incoming human resources director as project lead, and prioritize immediate interim safety controls.
City manager Mr. Helferich told commissioners the current manual contains useful baseline rules but needs modernization. “We need to rebuild it,” he said, adding a management-led review should differentiate policy, procedure, training, forms and technical appendices so the final product is maintainable and enforceable. He estimated the initial framework could be produced in about 15 weeks if work begins promptly.
Commissioners said the rebuild should avoid duplication with the personnel policy and be written so it is enforceable without becoming a step-by-step procedure. Mr. Helferich said each department head will provide input and that staff will begin groundwork before the HR director officially starts, to keep the project on schedule. Ms. Powers, who delivered the HR report, confirmed other staffing updates and training items that tie to the manual’s implementation, noting a new community communications manager accepted an offer and is expected to start July 6.
The commission identified specific technical areas the management review must evaluate, including incident reporting, emergency action and fire prevention, hazard communication, personal protective equipment and exposure controls, fleet and mobile equipment safety, right-of-way and traffic control, excavating and trenching, confined space, lockout/tagout, electrical safety, heat and storm work, contractor safety, workplace violence and public contact procedures. Commissioners emphasized the review process must include clear revision dates and a single authoritative location for modifications to prevent inconsistent updates across departments.
Commissioners asked staff to begin immediate interim controls for priority items such as emergency contact lists, workers’ compensation reporting, hazard analysis, traffic control and excavation/trenching procedures; staff confirmed those items will be addressed promptly, with staff aiming to have initial work completed before the new HR director is onboarded and to provide an update at the commission’s next regular meeting scheduled for Sept. 22.
The commission also noted uncertainty about the adoption year on older documents (participants cited different years for the existing manual); staff said placeholders in the packet reflect a template approach and that adoption and revision dates will be clarified in the rebuilt document.
Next steps: staff will inventory department procedures, interview department heads, produce a draft framework within the projected timeline, and return with a progress update in September. The commission did not take a formal vote on the rebuild at the June 30 meeting but confirmed direction and leadership assignments.
