Industrial Safety Policies

Confined Space Entry Procedure - 65.5.1
Many workers are injured and killed each year while working in confined spaces. An estimated 60% of the fatalities have been among the would-be rescuers. A confined space can be more hazardous than regular workspaces for many reasons. To effectively control the risks associated with working in a confined space, a Confined Space Hazard Assessment and Control Program should be implemented in the workplace.

This policy is used to ensure employees are trained to recognize confined space and take the necessary precautions before entering a confined space.

Lockout/Tagout/Try - 65.5.2

The City and County of Denver’s Lockout/Tagout/Verify Policy is used to ensure that all equipment is de-energized and physically removed and isolated from external and internal power sources prior to servicing and maintenance activities in which the accidental start-up or the release of energy could cause injury or death. The primary purpose of this document is to protect personnel from injury or death. A secondary purpose is to protect equipment from damage.

Electrical Safety - 65.5.3

The purpose of this policy is to establish safe work practices that are intended to prevent electric shock or other injuries resulting from either direct or indirect electrical contacts when work is performed near or on equipment or circuits which are or may be energized. Because of the diversity in job assignments throughout the City, employees are at varying levels of potential exposure to energized components of electrical systems.

This Policy addresses a variety of potential exposure levels and describes precautionary measures that are to be implemented to minimize risks.

Fall Protection 65.5.4

Falls from ladders and roofs account for the majority of falls. Identifying fall hazards and deciding how best to protect workers is the first step in reducing or eliminating fall hazards. There are a number of ways to protect workers from falls including conventional systems such as guardrail systems, safety net systems and personal fall protection systems (fall arrest systems, positioning systems and travel restraint systems) as well as through the use of safe work practices and training.

This policy is used to establish minimum fall control practices for City and County employees who perform work in areas where they are exposed to heights of six feet or more and at lower heights where potentially hazardous conditions exist.

Construction Safety - 65.5.5

This policy is used to ensure contractors at the City and County of Denver have the appropriate programs developed and implemented to work safely at its facilities. The City is also committed to injury/illness prevention to all City employees and to the prevention of property damage or other loss caused by the action or inaction of outside contractors.

The effectiveness of the contractor safety policy depends upon the active support and involvement of all employees. This policy is intended to ensure that all contractor work practices are carried out safely to minimize the possibility of injury or harm to the contractors' employees or the City’s employees.

Heavy Equipment/Mobile Equipment Safety - 65.5.6

The City and County of Denver recognizes the hazards associated with the operation of heavy equipment/mobile equipment. This policy is used to establish guidelines to eliminate injuries or fatalities related to this type of equipment.

This policy applies to all free moving mobile equipment that may be propelled by gasoline, propane, diesel or electricity. Only competent personnel may operate heavy equipment/mobile equipments. An individual’s competency must be demonstrated by successful completion of the training and evaluation process specified in this policy. This policy establishes requirements to work in or around all types of mobile equipment.

Hoisting and Rigging/Crane Safety - 65.6.7

Hoisting and rigging refers to the lifting and moving of loads using mechanical devices. The objective of the hoisting and rigging policy is to protect personnel from injury, the environment from harm, and equipment and property from damage; specifically, to protect load operators and others in the work area, other city property, and the hoisting and rigging equipment itself.

Hoisting and rigging is a complicated topic and can have significant safety consequences if not performed correctly. Fundamental to the hoisting and rigging policy and consistent with the City and County of Denver’s Safety and Health Management System, is the expectation that agencies and departments involved in hoisting and rigging activities take responsibility to understand the hoisting and rigging requirements and apply them to their operations.

Machine Safe Guarding Policy - 65.5.8

Lacerations to hands, fractured fingers, amputated fingers and hands are just a few of the more common types of injuries associated with the failure to recognize, heed or protect against machinery and equipment hazards.

This policy is used to protect all City and County of Denver employees who may be exposed to hazards while operating equipment and machinery.

As used in this document, machine guarding means any device which effectively prevents City and County of Denver employees from physical harm due to contact with any hazard present at a piece of equipment or machine. As used in this document, hazards include any piece of equipment or machine, any part of equipment or machine or any projectile from equipment or machine, capable of crushing, puncturing, severing, breaking or otherwise injuring any body part.

Fire Protection / Loss Control 65.6.9

This policy is used to minimize the potential for fire and explosion from the storage, handling and application of flammable gases and liquids. It is intended to reduce the hazard to a degree consistent with reasonable employee safety, without undue interference with employee convenience and necessity of operations that require the use of flammable and combustible liquids.

Flammable and Combustible Safe Use Policy - 65.5.10

This policy is used to protect all City and County of Denver employees and contractors from the danger of fire or explosion from flammable and combustible liquids. It is also intended to prevent property damage associated with fire peril.

Compressed Gas Safety Policy - 65.5.11

This policy is used to protect all City and County of Denver employees and contractors from the danger of fire or explosion from compressed gases. It is also intended to prevent property damage associated with fire peril.

This policy is based on the Compressed Gas Association guidelines.

Hot Work Safety Policy - 65.5.12

Ensuring fire safety in the performance of hot-work (welding, cutting, and brazing) operations during demolition, construction, renovation, or maintenance activities is a critical component of fire prevention. This policy is designed to prevent injury and loss of property from fire or explosion as a result of hot work in City and County buildings and activities such as welding, brazing, soldering, heat treating, grinding and other similar application producing a spark, flame or heat.

Emergency Preparedness - 65.5.13

This policy establishes the criteria for specified Emergency Response Procedures that are to be maintained by all City and County Departments / Agencies. The National Safety Council recommends that all facilities have a written response procedure for all emergencies which are most likely to occur at the worksite.

Emergencies covered by this policy include, lightning, fire, tornado, suspicious person/intruder, hazardous materials release, bomb threat, explosion/gunfire, and a person with a weapon.