Model Safety Plan Best Safety Practices for YOUR Business Model Valet Services Program The primary intent of this document is to provide you with guidance developing, establishing, or improving your own safety and health program. This material is intended only as a basis for you to develop your own safety program by giving you some procedures covering topics most employers must handle. You are free to modify or delete items as they fit your needs. However, this material is not all-inclusive and may not address special safety issues unique to your industry. This plan may not fulfill written or minimum performance standards of your state or federal regulations. Be certain that you evaluate any additional needs, related regulations, and your commitment to work-place safety. Solicit input from members of your work force and management team in the development of this program. Remember, any written plan is only as good as your commitment. Foreword Developing a proactive safety and health program is one of the best ways to help you control your costs from workplace incidents of employee injuries and property damage. We are committed to helping you by providing materials and consultation designed to reduce your exposures and develop controls. Working together, we can identify Loss Prevention strategies to benefit your business, your work force, and your bottom line. Together, we can find solutions that will make a difference. Take a look these materials, that represent the primary issues most businesses will need to handle... Why Do You Need A Safety Plan? To satisfy state and/or federal regulations; To communicate procedures for recording and reporting accidents and incidents; To reduce your risk of liability; To plan for the unexpected; To reduce the costs and financial impact of lost-time injuries; To establish base line expectations and safe work procedures/practices; To give employees ownership in your program; To provide a managerial reference guide; To document management s commitment, responsibility, authority, and accountability for safe work performance; and To identify and reinforce safe work habits. An effective Model Valet Services Program will enable you to meet your responsibility to provide a safe establishment for both employees and customers. You may also receive economic benefits such as: Fewer accidents and injuries Lower insurance costs Improved quality Financial stability Reduced operating costs Reduced exposure to litigation Increased employee productivity Improved customer relations Improved employee morale This Model Safety Program is intended to be used only as a guide. This model program is not intended to meet any particular local, state or federal health and safety laws or regulations. Our services do not relieve you of your responsibility to provide a safe place of employment or a safe business operation. This Model Safety Program is not intended to be a substitute for your ongoing loss control or accident prevention responsibilities. MSP 024 2009 Liberty Mutual Group All Rights Reserved July 2009
Using This Material This model safety program was developed as a set of best practices to help you enhance your current program or, if you have no current plan, to provide you a base line from which to begin. You can implement these policies and procedures now or fine-tune to your own needs. However, the most essential element is YOU and YOUR COMMITMENT to making it happen! See also the Model Safety Programs on The Core Elements of a Safety and Health Program, Fleet Safety as supplements to this program if applicable to your operations. Begin by preparing a policy statement as an endorsement of your commitment to safety. Be sure to communicate your intent to your entire work force. Post this in a conspicuous location to help demonstrate your support. Keep it current to reflect your continuous interest in the program. Assign the responsibility and authority to coordinate the program. An example of this has been prepared as one sample policy. The role of the safety coordinator and many other functions has been clearly defined. You may adopt these as unchanged or edit them as you wish. This template has been designed to provide you with a better understanding of what primary elements are necessary to build the foundation for a successful safety and health program. Each topic has been developed to provide you with sample, individualized plans that provide guidance with many of OSHA s expectations as well as "shared or best practices". However, we do not intend that these plans necessarily assure compliance with their related OSHA standard. Contact your local or regional OSHA office of the federal or state specific plan having jurisdiction. In addition, your Loss Prevention consultant can provide additional guidance to help with implementation and training. If there are specific plans necessary for your topic of interest, contact your Loss Prevention consultant for additional help. Because state laws vary concerning the sample policy in this document, it is recommended that you have this policy reviewed by your attorney, particularly with respect to employment practices. These documents are not a substitute for consulting your own legal counsel. Before reproducing this document, please delete these opening 2 pages. The illustrations, instructions and principles contained in the material are general in scope and, to the best of our knowledge, current at the time of publication. No attempt has been made to interpret any referenced codes, standards or regulations. Please refer to the appropriate code-, standard-, or regulation-making authority for interpretation or clarification. Provided that you always reproduce our copyright notice and any other notice of rights, disclaimers, and limitations, and provided that no copy in whole or in part is transferred, sold, lent, or leased to any third party, you may make and distribute copies of this publication for your internal use. 2
Sample Valet Parking Safety Program The Company recognizes that the safety of their employees, the public, guests and their property are the mission of the Valet Parking Safety Program. To that end, vehicles shall be operated in a safe manner and in compliance with all pertinent state and federal laws. Driver Qualification All valet parking staff must meet all of the criteria described below. Only approved drivers are permitted to operate guests vehicles. Approved drivers must: o Be at a minimum, 21 years of age. o Have a valid state drivers license. o Not have more than one at fault accident of any type in the last three years. o Have no more than one moving violation in the last three years. o Pass a background check and drug test. o Supply past employer references on hire. o Demonstrate good driving skills during a road test, including the ability to drive a stick shift proficiently and to parallel park. o Pass the company driver written and road test. Motor Vehicle Reports Company reserves the right to request motor vehicle reports (MVRs) on any employment applicants as well as current employees or contractors with driving responsibilities. MVRs will also be obtained annually for all Company staff with driving responsibilities. Drivers License Drivers are required to carry their current driver s license when driving vehicles. Employees must immediately notify the location manager of any changes in the status of their license, including any at-fault accidents or moving violations. Driving Test The Company reserves the right to conduct both a driving written and road test of any prospective or employed driver at any time. Revocation of Driving Responsibility Employees who: are observed demonstrating carelessness or wanton disregard for safe operation of a motor vehicle, or receive citations for moving violations and DUI infractions, or are involved in chargeable accidents may be excluded from driving responsibilities and may face suspension and/or termination from employment. 3
Driver Education and Training An employee orientation training program will be held for all valet parking employees which will include all rules and procedures. The Company will provide all drivers with a vehicle safety training program that includes an on road competency evaluation. Refresher training will be provided every three years along with a formal competency evaluation Personal Use of Company Vehicles Personal use of guest s or company vehicles is strictly prohibited without prior consent of the manager. Guest s vehicles must NOT leave the property for any reason, when in the valet service s care. When parking the customer s vehicle: Remind guests to remove valuables from the vehicle. Only enter the vehicle after all guests have exited. Immediately Document the condition of the vehicle on the parking ticket. Point out any obvious damage to the valet manager who will have the customer acknowledge the damage and initial the card. Drive slowly past the parking lot cameras to obtain a visual record of the vehicles condition. When no cameras exist, take pictures of damages with a digital camera before leaving the drop off area. Once inside the vehicle be sure everyone has exited and all doors are closed. Clean windows if necessary for safe vehicle operation. Adjust the seat and mirrors only when necessary for your safe operation of the vehicle. Drive slow - under 15 MPH Obey all traffic laws. Yield the right of way to all guests and other vehicles. Wear seat belts whenever the car is in motion. Check right and left blind spots before proceeding. Honk when entering blind intersections. Only back up when necessary. Most damage occurs while backing up. Do not operate the radio, air conditioning, and other controls. If you are not familiar with the operation of the vehicle (hybrid, keyless ignition, etc.) ask the manager. No consumption of alcohol within in 8 hours of reporting to work or during your shift. Never use your cell phone while driving and only away from guests. Always lock every car while parked. Immediately return all keys to the key board. Never leave keys or the key board unattended. 4
Altered Vehicles: Occasionally an altered vehicle will need to be parked. Most the time this is a vehicle adapted for a handicapped person. The accelerator may be on the left or have a hand control. There may be a hand lever for the brake. If one arrives alert the location manager. He or she is trained to park the vehicle. Retrieving the vehicle: Leave a Safety Zone on both sides of the vehicle when you park it to prevent damage. Leave enough room so vehicles on both sides can easily get out and doors will open without touching the adjacent car. Do not move a vehicle with the doors open, even to just pull it up. When pulling a car forward or when a guest has stopped to be parked be sure the vehicle is in park instead of drive or reverse. This is a potentially dangerous situation. Just being aware of this will prevent a car from backing or lunging forward with no driver. Handling Luggage Park the vehicle to allow room to access the trunk. Always use a luggage cart to handle multiple bags. Ask for help with larger bags or items. Position the cart close by, without damaging the vehicle, to reduce carrying. Do not overload the cart. Hold object close to the body to reduce reaching Always push the cart rather than pull. Report all damaged carts to the manager. Incident Reporting: If an incident (loss, damage, or injury) occurs report it immediately to the location manager. Immediately report any suspicious activity to the manager. Fill out the damage claim form and document the vehicle condition as shown on the parking ticket. All incidents will be investigated for preventability and fault. Take pictures of the alleged damage. Get the names and contact information of any witnesses. Note the parking time so that security can match it to the camera record. Be courteous but do not admit fault to the customer. 5