I. Purpose:

To facilitate a uniform response and documentation to internal incidents, while complying with the Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP).

II. This policy applies to any unusual internal incident and is intended to expand relative to the anticipated scope of the incident.

III. "Unusual Incident" is any event resulting from direct or indirect involvement of our members, equipment or property during the course of their duties or where the public's perception may be that which implies that a member, district equipment or property are involved or an event where the public or employee are injured, litigation is anticipated, private property is damaged or there is suspicion that a criminal act has been committed by a member as a direct or indirect result of our involvement.

IV. Minor incidents where an injury has occurred to an employee, not requiring medical treatment and or where District property has sustained damage, not requiring immediate repair.

A. Involved parties shall complete no less than one "Report of Accident or Unusual Incident" report. This shall be completed within twenty-four hours of the incident. The report will be submitted to the supervisor and forwarded to the duty chief. The report must represent a complete investigation and may include related documents, witness statements and evidence.

B. In the event that an employee sustains any injury, the supervisor shall provide the employee with an "Employee's Claim for Worker's Compensation Benefits". The employee shall complete and submit this report as required in Section 4 of the IIPP.

V. A threshold incident is any event as outlined above where an employee sustains an injury resulting in medical treatment, there is an injury to a member of the public, damage to another's property, anticipated litigation or suspicion that a member has committed a criminal act.

A. The duty chief shall be notified as soon as possible by the supervisor.

B. Involved parties shall complete no less than one "Report of Accident or Unusual Incident" report. This shall be completed within twenty-four hours of the incident. The report will be submitted to the supervisor and forwarded to the duty chief. The report must represent a complete investigation and may include related documents, witness statements and evidence.

C. If an employee is injured, the supervisor shall provide the injured employee with an "Employee's Claim for Worker's Compensation Benefits". The employee shall complete and submit this report as required in Section 4 of the IIPP. If the employee is unable to complete this document, a supervisor may complete the document on behalf of the employee.

D. In situations where a lost time, disabling injury occurs, there is damage to private property, major damage to District property, minor injury to a member of the public, or anticipated litigation has occurred the duty chief shall initiate a detailed investigation. This investigation shall follow general investigative practices. The investigator shall produce a detailed report, independent of the employees or supervisors incident report. This report may include witness and victim statements, evidence, photographs and supporting documentation. The investigator shall attempt to identify causation, fault and future preventive measures.

When a major incident occurs where an employee or member of the public sustains a disabling or fatal injury, or there is suspicion of criminal activity on the behalf of an employee, the duty chief shall notify the Fire Chief. Involved employees shall make every effort to preserve evidence. The duty chief shall make every effort to involve a third party agency (e.g.; El Dorado County Sheriff's Department, the California Highway Patrol or the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection) as primary investigator. This does not necessarily relieve the duty chief of the obligation to conduct an investigation. Every effort shall be made the establish causation, fault and future preventive measures.

Incidents that create or result in phone or radio communications with the ECC or Central Dispatch, the appropriate dispatch supervisor should be notified of a pending investigation and possible requirement of supporting documentation.

[ home ] [ index ] [ return to top ]