FY 2009 State Director’s Policy on Occupational Safety and Health for California BLM, and California State Safety and Health Action Plan for FY 2009-2010

November 13, 2008

In Reply Refer To:
1112 (CA-940) P                                                                                                                                                

EMS TRANSMISSION: 11/13/08
Instruction Memorandum No. CA-2009-007
Expires:  09/30/10

To:                     California State Management Team

From:                State Director

Subject:             FY 2009 State Director’s Policy on Occupational Safety and Health for California BLM,
                           and California State Safety and Health Action Plan for FY 2009-2010          

Program Area: Occupational Safety and Health

Purpose: This Instruction Memorandum updates and reissues the State Director’s policy on Occupational Safety & Health for California BLM and transmits the attached California State Safety and Health Action Plan for FY 2009-2010.

BLM’s policy is to provide safe and healthy working conditions, prevent employee injuries and work-related illnesses, prevent visitor injuries, and protect Bureau owned or leased property from damage.   All managers are responsible and accountable for implementing and managing a vigorous safety program and incorporating safety conscious work practices for all programs under their jurisdiction.  BLM Handbook 1112-2, Safety and Health for Field Operations, contains information and guidance on the Safety Program. In addition, the California Strategic Priorities include an emphasis on specific aspects of our Safety Program.

I expect each of you to incorporate safety into your workforce and budget planning processes to ensure that appropriate funding, personnel, and other resources are allocated to effectively administer the Safety Program.  In addition, I expect each of you to establish an environment which values safety first in the decision making process.  One important element in creating a safe environment for your employees and visitors is developing a Safety and Health Action Plan for your local office as required in the state Safety and Health Action Plan (Attachment 1).  I am also requesting that you personally ensure that your local safety officer receives appropriate training as outlined in the Safety Training Matrix (Attachment 2), and that you adopt the attached Best Management Practices (Attachment 3) wherever appropriate.

I encourage each of you to become advocates for Safety and Health in the workplace.  We all have a responsibility to prevent accidents, to identify and correct hazards, to provide a healthy work environment, and to provide and use appropriate safety engineering practices, administrative controls, and/or protective equipment.

Your local permanent or collateral duty Safety Officer, as well as the State Safety Manager, Jim Anger, can assist you with all aspects of the program.  Full-time and collateral duty Safety Officers in California are:

              Contact                         Location                             Phone Number                    Collateral or FT
              Hazel Turner                 Bakersfield F.O.              661-391-6092                  collateral
              Donna McMullen          Bishop F.O.                     760-872-5021                  full time
              John Rapphahn             Folsom F.O.                    916-985-4474                 collateral
              Dave Slibsager              Hollister F.O.                  831-630-5040                  collateral
              Russ Elam                     Eagle Lake F.O.              530-252-5317                  collateral
              Dave McKirahan           Alturas F.O.                    530-233-4666                  collateral
              Dan Burgoyne               Surprise F.O.                   530-279-2708                  collateral
              Hank Harrison               Arcata F.O.                     707-825-2318                  collateral
              Erin Simmons                Ukiah F.O.                      707-468-4021                  collateral
              Tim Bradley                   Redding F.O.                  530-224-2124                  collateral
              Robert Haggerty           CDD                                 909-697-5210                   full time
              Randy Masner               Ridgecrest F.O.             760-384-5400                  collateral
             Terry Joyce                     Palm Springs F.O.        760-251-9283                   collateral
             Gil Fritzsche                   El Centro F.O.                 760-337-4433                 collateral
             Harold Thomas              Barstow F.O.                  760-252-6049                 collateral
             VACANT                         Needles F.O.                   760-326-xxxx                  collateral    
             Jim Anger                       Sacramento S.O.            916-978-4521                full time

For additional information and guidance on the Safety Program, please review BLM Handbook 1112-2 Safety and Health for Field Operations.   Questions regarding this IM can be directed to Jim Anger at (916) 978-4521.

Signed by:                                                                                                                          
James Wesley Abbott                                                                                                    
Associate State Director                                                                                               

Authenticated by:
Richard A. Erickson
Records Management
 

3 Attachments
1 - California State Safety and Health Action Plan (4 pgs.)
2 - Safety Training Matrix (3 pgs.)
3 - Best Management Practices (2 pgs.)