Safety and Health
SECTION 1. The Union will cooperate with the Company in encouraging employees to observe all safety regulations prescribed by the Company and to work in a safe manner. A joint safety committee of five (5) persons or fewer appointed by the Company, the Company Safety Analyst, and six (6) persons or fewer appointed by the Union will meet monthly to further the program of safety, health, and sanitation. No member of the Union grievance committee shall serve as a member of the Safety Committee.
The members of the Safety Committee will elect the Chairperson of the Safety Committee biennially. The Committee will receive annual training on their duties and responsibilities. Recommendations of the Safety Committee shall be submitted to and reviewed by management and the Safety Committee notified of their decision within sixty (60) days.
SECTION 2. The Employer shall pay for all time involved while assuming these duties, providing the time involved will be during regular working hours. If the Employer or any Federal or State Agency requires any special clothing, gloves, glasses, or safety shoes, the Employer shall pay the total cost of any items. The maximum reimbursement for safety shoes will be $150 per year. The Company will establish a purchase order/voucher system with a designated vendor(s) centrally located within the service territory for the purchase of approved safety shoes up to the maximum reimbursement. In the event an employee has special needs, i.e., size/width, he/she will be allowed to purchase shoes from the vendor of his/her choice and submit the receipt for reimbursement. The Company will pay 100% for prescription safety eyewear biennially if necessary to perform duties of an employee’s classification or a classification to which the employee may be temporarily assigned under Art. III, Sec. 12. provided the employee uses a Company preferred provider and selects Company approved frames and lenses.
SECTION 3. The Company will furnish first-aid kits on all vehicles. It is the responsibility of the employees to make sure that the first-aid kits are kept fully equipped. The Company will furnish the material to keep the first-aid kits fully equipped.
SECTION 4.(a) Employees are not required to operate: No employee shall be compelled to take out equipment that is not mechanically sound and properly equipped to conform with all applicable city, state, and federal regulations.
(b) Reports: Employees shall immediately, or at the end of their shift, report all defects of equipment. Such reports shall be made on a suitable form furnished by the Employer, and shall be made in multiple copies, one copy to be retained by the employee. Such reports shall not ask or require any employee to take out vehicles that have been reported by any other employee as being in an unsafe operating condition until same has been approved, in writing, as being safe by the mechanical department, or a qualified representative of the Employer.
In the event an employee shall suffer a revocation of his/her drivers’ license because of violation of any laws by the Employer, the Employer shall provide suitable and continued employment for such employee, at not less than his/her regular earnings at the time of revocation of license, for the entire period of revocation of license and such employee shall be reinstated in the seniority he/she held, prior to revocation of his/her drivers’ license after his/hers drivers’ license is restored.
In the event an employee shall suffer a revocation of his/her drivers’ license because of violation of any laws by the Employee, providing the facts and circumstances do not warrant disciplinary action, the Employer will insofar as practicable find a suitable position that utilizes the skill and ability of the employee in a job first in his/her department, or if none is available then within the Company, that does not require operating a vehicle. If the rate of pay for the assigned position is less than the employees’ current rate of pay, the employees’ rate of pay will be reduced to the maximum rate of pay for the position assigned.
SECTION 5. Employees will be bailed out of jail if accused of any offense in connection with the faithful discharge of their duties, and any employee forced to spend time in jail or in courts shall be compensated at his/her regular rate of pay. In addition, he/she shall be entitled to reimbursement for his/her meals, transportation, court costs, etc.; provided, however, that faithful discharge of duties shall in no case include compliance with any order involving commission of a felony. In case an employee shall be subpoenaed or required to appear in any court proceeding as a Company witness, or in connection with any incident arising out of the faithful discharge of his or her duties he/she shall be reimbursed for all time lost and expenses incurred. Faithful discharge shall not include any traffic incident in which the employee received any ticket, summons, or warning.
SECTION 6. Employers shall protect employees with Workers' Compensation Insurance, Social Security, and Unemployment Insurance, as required by Federal and State law.