Safety Program:

Employee is to print and sign the following document upon having read this Handbook.

General Statement of Safety Policy:

SOLANO’S INC. and its management team have a responsibility to provide all reasonable safeguards for employee health and safety in compliance with Federal and State laws/regulations. We also have a responsibility to direct and insure that employees perform their assigned tasks in a safe working manner. Most of all, we have a responsibility to develop a safety awareness in our staff.

Providing a safe and healthy work environment is a business objective as well as a moral one. Injury and illness represent lower productivity, staffing issues, higher insurance costs, potential fines and litigation. An accident free workplace is good for business as well as employees.

Our Injury/Illness Prevention Program:

SOLANO’S INC will continue to have an effective Injury & Illness Prevention Program (IIP). Our program includes creation of this updated IIP Program manual that defines our safety program, requirements for training our staff regarding safety procedures and work rules, scheduled inspections at each of our facilities with follow-up corrective actions and procedures for handling jobsite incidents. Details of each of these elements will be discussed and expanded in following portions of this manual.

The Injury and Illness Prevention Program Manual consists of two parts, Part 1 describes the IIP program policies and procedures and Part 2 provides detail work rules to be followed to ensure safety in our workplace.

SOLANO’S management encourages all employees to make suggestions for improvement in our working environment and will continue to add to or revise this document when improvements are recognized.

A safe and healthy working environment requires active participation of the entire staff. For purposes of this discussion, four discrete levels within the staff are described and their general duties and responsibilities identified.

Corporate Management:

Corporate officers are ultimately responsible for providing a safe environment for the conduct of the Corporation’s business activities. The policies and procedures of the corporation must comply with Federal and State laws and regulations, notably Cal/OSHA, as to health and safety.

To assist them in their duties, they shall call upon various corporate functions including Facility Managers, Human Resources, Controller, Information Technology and an appointed member of the organization referred to as the Safety Coordinator.

Corporate management is responsible for:

1) Understanding the corporation’s responsibilities under applicable Federal and State health and safety laws and regulations.

2) Implementing an Injury and Illness Prevention program.

3) Monitoring IIP program compliance.

Facility Management:

Each of SOLANO’S entities has a Facility (Store) Manager. These individuals are key to the success of our IPP program. They insure that employees assigned to their facility are performing their assigned tasks in accordance with the procedures described in the IIP program documentation.

Facility Management is responsible for:

1) Assuring that the IIP program is presented to each member of their staff.

2) Reviewing actual job performance to assure compliance with the policies and procedures defined in the IIP program documentation.

3) Determining possible hazards in their facility and developing acceptable alternatives to resolve hazard potential.

4) Preparing documentation required to report accident/exposure incidents.

5) Assuring proper training of their staff.

Safety Coordinator:

The Safety Coordinator has a number of responsibilities to assure that the corporation’s daily activities are conducted in a safe workplace environment. This position reports directly to the CEO.

Safety Coordinator is responsible for:

1) Awareness of changes in Federal and State workplace safety regulations.

2) Preparation of the Injury and Illness Prevention program document.

3) With the Facility Managers, perform periodic facility audits for safety procedure and work rule compliance.

4) Assist the Facility managers in resolving identified actual or potential hazardous conditions.

5) With the Facility Managers, review safety/illness incidents and assure proper documentation and remedial actions as required.

6) Providing reporting forms and documentation required as defined in the IIP Program manual.

7) Provide training aids, safety posters, documents and specialist speakers as required.

Other Team Members:

As stated, safety in the workplace is the responsibility of all members of the corporation. Your actions and observations are critical to achieving our goal of having an accident free workplace environment.

Team Members are responsible for:

1) Having a clear understanding of the IIP Program content, procedures and objectives.

2) Following safety/illness rules as defined in the IIP Program documentation and/or as directed by their supervision.

3) Reporting injury/illness incidents immediately to the applicable Facility Manager or in his absence, the Safety Coordinator or CEO.

4) Reporting actual or possible hazardous conditions or behaviors to their Facility Manager or the Safety Coordinator.

5) Keeping his/her manager and Human Resources informed regarding treatment of any workplace injury including doctor and other treatment appointments, state of recovery, financial transactions and other information regarding the incident including communication with workers comp and/or personal insurers.

The following figure, IIP-1, illustrates the significant activities that are involved in our safety program. Descriptions of select blocks on the figure are provided below.

Program Objectives:

Our IIP Program must comply with a number of requirements defined by outside organizations as well as the goals of SOLANO’S INC. The health and safety of our employees is of interest to two Occupational Safety and Health Administrations, Cal/OSHA and Fed/OSHA. These government entities administer laws and regulations affecting the health and welfare of our workers. Also, our Workers Compensation Insurance carrier and State Division of Workers Compensation are involved in industrial workplace incidents that result in workers claims. Last but not least, our corporate management desires to provide the staff a safe and healthy environment.

IIP Program Manual:

Based on the objectives and requirements, this Injury and Illness Program Manual was created by our Safety Coordinator. As indicated on the figure, modifications and/or enhancements to the manual will be made as operating experience mandates.

Employee Training:

As shown in Figure IIP-2, employees must review and study the IIP Program Manual and acknowledge their understanding of the procedures and work rules that apply to their location and work assignments. New employees receive an Orientation presentation from their Facility Manager that includes review of this manual. See form EO-1, the Orientation Checklist.

Upon completion of becoming familiar with the content of the manual, each employee shall sign and date the Employee Acknowledgement Form (EA 1) and return it to the applicable Facility Manager for forwarding to HR (Pam Hansen). The completed form becomes part of the employee’s data file.

Facility Managers shall continually review their employee’s compliance with the published procedures and work rules. If remedial or changed work rule training is required, the Facility Manager shall conduct such training with support of the Safety Coordinator. An attendance log indicating the training subject, date and names of those employees attending shall be forwarded by the Facility Manager to HR. Quarterly, Facility Managers shall schedule a meeting(s) with their staff to review the work rules applicable to their facility.

Hazards Inspections:

The Facility Manager shall on a daily basis, review his facility status regarding safety issues and compliance with the published procedures and work rules. As shown in Figure IIP-3, a monthly walk through inspection of each facility is to be conducted by the Facility Managers and the Safety Coordinator. The results of the inspections are recorded on Form MI-1. Items requiring corrective action are noted and the date corrections are made entered. Upon completion, Form MI-1 is forwarded to the Safety Coordinator by the Facility Manager for filing. If changes in procedures or equipment/structures are recommended, the Facility Manager shall contact the Safety Coordinator who will obtain resolution of the issue by contact with the CEO.

Incident Response:

Response to an employee injury involves numerous actions and documents. Figure IIP-4 illustrates the major steps involved. The simplest case is when the injury requires only first aid performed at a SOLANO’S site or if the treatment by a medical professional is classified as first aid. This option does not require preparing a Worker’s Compensation treatment referral document or Worker’s Comp claim form. See Figure II-5 for a description of First Aid.

The second case is where a professional medical person is required to provide treatment beyond first aid. If the injury is so severe that the employee is not mobile, ambulance or first responders should be called via 911. If the employee is mobile they should be offered treatment by a medical professional. If they do not wish treatment they must complete Form RT-1, Refuse Medical Treatment. They may choose to have treatment at a later date. When treatment is chosen, Form WCT is to be completed and copies provided to the employee to present to Dr. D. Higer or Mercy Medical Center emergency room for treatment. If the employee has filed an exception form with HR, they may be treated by their elected medical service provider in lieu of Dr. Higer or Mercy Medical Center. The employee may be provided transportation or allowed to travel on their own depending on the nature of the injury.

Injuries or illness that require treatment beyond first aid are potential Worker’s Comp cases. The employee is to be provided with the claim form, Form DWC 1 and they must sign Form RC-1 acknowledging that they have been provided with the claim form.

All employee injury or illness incidents including fatalities require an incident investigation. The investigation is to be performed by the applicable facility manager and the Safety Coordinator. Results of this investigation are recorded on Form II-1, Incident Investigation. Incidents that result in lost time beyond the date of the incident or medical treatment beyond first aid must be reported to Cal/OSHA on Form 5020 within 5 days of the incident occurrence. Fatalities must be reported to Cal/OSHA by phone or fax within 8 hours of the incident.

Within 24 hours of an incident (not a fatality), the CEO, the Safety Coordinator, and Human Resources must be informed by the applicable Facility Manager or lead individual who attended to the injured.

First Aid Definition

As defined by Cal/OSHA for incident reporting

· Visiting a licensed health care professional sole for observation or counseling.

· Diagnostic procedures such as x-rays and blood tests or other diagnostics (but not treatment).

· Using a non-prescription medication at non-prescription strength.

· Cleaning, flushing or soaking wounds on the skin surface.

· Using wound coverings such as bandages, Band Aids, gauze pads or butterfly bandages and Steri-strips. (No sutures or staples).

· Using hot or cold therapy.

· Using non ridged means of support such as elastic wraps.

· Temporary immobilization devices while transporting a patient.

· Draining fluid from a nail or blister.

· Using eye patches.

· Removing foreign bodies from the eye using only irrigation or cotton swab.

· Providing drinking fluids for relief of heat stress.

Figure II-5

Program Reporting:

A number of forms have been described as we have defined the IIP Program in effect at SOLANO’S INC. There are two additional forms required by Cal/OSHA, Forms Cal/OSHA 300 and 300A. Form 300 is a log of work related incidents that result in days away from work or medical treatment beyond first aid. Enter number of days away from work when the employee returns to work. Form 300A is an annual summary of lost time incidents is prepared by the Safety Coordinator and must be signed by the CEO and posted in SOLANO’S facilities by February 1 of each year.

Employee Behavior:

SOLANO’S INC. reserves the right to discipline employees who knowingly violate company safety rules or policies. Disciplinary measures will include but not be limited to:

- Verbal warning for minor offenses.

- Written warning for more severe or repeated violations.

- Suspension without pay, if verbal and written warnings do not prove sufficient.

- Finally, if none of the above measures prove satisfactory, and no other acceptable solution can be found, the company will have no choice but to terminate employment for those who continue to jeopardize their own safety, and the safety of others.

FORMS

Note: Forms included in this section are for illustrative purposes and are not to be removed or copied for use. Contact your Manager or the Business Office for forms to be used for an incident.

Title and Form Number

New Employee Orientation EO-1

Monthly Hazards Inspection MI-1

Workers Comp Treatment Referral WCT

Refuse Treatment RT-1

Receipt of Claim Form RC-1

Workers Comp Claim DWC 1

Incident Investigation II-1

Cal/OSHA Injury or Illness Report Form 5020

Cal/OSHA Log of work related injuries/illnesses Form 300

Cal/OSHA Annual summary Form 300A

Part 2 Work Rules

This portion of our II Program Manual presents specific instructions that pertain to operations at the various SOLANO’S facilities. Wherein Part 1 described the safety program content, procedures and Corporate policy, Part 2 presents detail information on how to perform your work tasks safely.

Safety vigilance:

When conducting activities that require vigilance on the part of customers and employees to avoid possible injury, warning signs must be posted surrounding the applicable work space. Examples are : mopping floors, stocking high shelves, moving shelving or pallets etc.

Personal Responsibility:

We can have the best Safety Manual in the industry, but if we employees don’t have Safety on our minds, we will not have a safe working environment. The following list highlights personal behavior traits that help create and maintain an injury free working environment.

1) Be alert to unsafe work methods or unsafe conditions. Correct them or report them to your supervisor immediately. Don’t wait for an accident to happen.

2) Report every injury immediately, serious (your judgment) or not.

3) Reporting to work under the influence of alcohol, narcotics or other substances can affect your performance, endangering yourself and others.

4) Horseplay and/or practical jokes can cause accidents.

5) Obey smoking rules (designated areas only).

6) Keep your work environment clean and in order.

7) Be aware of your footing conditions. Watch your step.

8) Clean up spills at once.

9) Keep aisles clear. Material stacked safely.

10) Wear proper clothing and footwear.

11) Walk, don’t run. Better to be slow and safe than fast and dangerous! This includes forklift operation.

12) Follow the work rules presented in this manual.

Correct Lifting Guidelines

Fall Prevention

The number one construction industry injury accident is from falling. Because of the frequency of these accidents, Cal/OSHA has created strict rules for working at heights. Workers operating more than six foot above a ridged surface, IE earth or floor, must be protected one of three ways:

42” guard rails around the work platform (scaffolding, balcony or man lift)

A personal protection harness and lanyard device

An approved safety net

SOLANO’S personnel are not allowed to operate on roof surfaces of any height. If they are required to perform activities within our facilities above the 6 foot limit they must comply with the following:

Scaffold_1

Rolling, steel frame scaffolding shall be used when the employee’s feet are above the 6 foot limit identified above. The wheel locks are to be engaged while working from the platform. The platform shall be full width and a 42” guardrail installed above the platform. All required X bracing shall be installed as shown in the above illustration. The scaffold may be moved by a helper if the employee is sitting down on the platform. The wheel locks are to be reengaged before the employee commences work.

Use of step ladders is limited to one option. A step ladder may be used if the worker’s feet are no more than 6 feet from the floor and are no higher than the second step from the top of the ladder as shown on the following illustration.

In all cases, the ladder horizontal braces shall be locked and the feet of the ladder placed on a secure, level surface. Step ladders shall not be used when closed, leaning against a wall or other support. The horizontal members on the back side of the ladder must not be used as steps.

Ladder edit

Wrong ladder_1

WRONG!

Note:

Temporary employees may have more limiting requirements regarding work above floor level. Confirm requirements before scheduling or performing tasks.

heatstroke Heatstroke Prevention

Awareness of heat illness symptoms can save your life or the life of a co-worker.

When working in the heat be sure to pay extra attention to how you and your co-workers are functioning and be sure you know how to call for medical attention if required.

Drinking plenty of water is vital. An individual exposed to excessive heat can produce as much as two gallons of sweat per day. To replenish that fluid, a worker should drink 3 to 4 cups of water every hour starting at the beginning of your shift. Caffeine drinks are to be avoided.

If you feel flushed but are not sweating you may be approaching a serious condition. If you start to feel symptoms such as nausea, dizziness, unusual fatigue, stop working and rest in a cool shaded area. If symptoms persist or worsen seek immediate medical attention.

Under excessively hot conditions, take frequent breaks in a cooler shaded location to allow for heat stress recovery.

The driver assigned to a delivery truck is responsible for stocking the truck with the daily drinking water supply.

Forklift Operation

Operation of forklifts is not allowed until the employee has completed training and observation/testing provided by the Yard Supervisor or Facility Manager. The following illustrations are provided as a reminder of rules for safe forklift operation. Following this material is a link to the CAL/OSHA published rules for safe forklift operation and a link to the operator evaluation forms to be completed by the Supervisor/Manager when testing the employee. When completed, the form(s) is to be sent to H.R. for filing in the employees personnel folder. Refresher training shall be conducted when it is observed that the operator is operating in an unsafe manner or has had an accident. Refresher evaluation is required to be conducted at least every three years.

Keep in mind you are operating a forklift, not a race car or a jet fighter. In case of an accident, you don’t have an ejection seat. Always start and stop smoothly, and keep your speed down.

The higher you lift the load, the more unstable it becomes. Always take extra care when making sharp turns with a raised load.

When transporting loads, you should never raise your load more than 8 inches from the ground. Keep your load tilted back.

If a load blocks your view, travel in reverse.

There are times when you need to move with a raised load, such as stacking. Slow down! Keep in mind that the higher you raise your load, the less stable it becomes.

As you lift and transport loads, it is important to watch for overhead obstructions such as beams and light fixtures.

Take time to adjust the forks to fit the load you will be carrying. Adjusting forks outward for wide loads helps you to center the load, and makes it more stable.

Never try to lift or carry loose or poorly stacked loads. Correctly stack and bind loads when required to prevent damage to the load or others.

If driving an empty forklift, travel in reverse up an incline and forward down an incline. Note that the center of gravity for the forklift is above the front wheels under both conditions.

If driving a loaded forklift, travel forward up an incline and backward down the incline. Note that the center of gravity for the forklift is above the front wheels under both conditions.

Never turn on a ramp or incline. Never drive across an incline. Forklifts are built “narrow”, the center of gravity can quickly shift to outside the safe area, causing the vehicle to tip over.

Ice, gravel, sand, mud, soft soil all represent potential problems for forklift operation. Operate with special care on these surfaces.

Try to avoid rough spots and pot holes. If you can- not avoid, slow down and cross carefully, at an angle, one wheel at a time.

To review the CAL/OSHA forklift operating rules, press . This material shall be read by the employee before the observation/training is conducted by the supervisor.

The performance evaluation form(s) to be completed by the supervisor/manager is available by pressing for fossil fueled lifts and for battery powered equipment. A copy of the applicable form is to be printed, completed and signed by the operator and the evaluator/trainer.

Miter (Chop) saw Operation

Several of our facilities have Miter (Chop) saws provided to cut custom lengths of moldings, trim etc. Operated improperly these tools can cause serious injury. Employees utilizing these in the course of their daily duties shall review the following material before using the equipment. A form is provided at the end of this material which shall be signed by the employee and forwarded to HR for filing in their personnel folder. If you have any questions regarding use of these tools contact your manager for clarification.

Safe operation includes the following practices:

1) Wear eye protection when operating a miter saw.

2) Do not wear gloves, loose clothing, or jewelry that could become entangled in the saw.

3) At least once a week the saw blade should be checked to confirm it is sharp, has no broken or missing teeth and is properly fixed to the drive shaft. The power cord must be removed from the outlet during this inspection.

4) The safety blade covering shield must function properly. Check before using the saw.

5) When cutting a board, it must be held securely against the back fence. Normally use your left hand to hold the material, placing your hand no closer than 6” to the path of the blade. Use your right hand to lower the saw and operate the power switch. Never cross your left hand over to hold the material on the right side of the blade’s path. Short pieces of material must be secured with clamps if they would require placing your hand closer than 6” from the blade.

6) Turn the saw on with the blade up and allow the saw to come up to speed before lowering the blade into the material to be cut. If you are using a sliding saw, start the cut at the edge of the material closest to you and move the saw through the width of the material.

7) When cutting is complete, release the power switch but hold the saw down until the blade has stopped turning.

8) If cutting long lengths of material be sure it is properly supported so that it does not drop and bind the saw or pull your hand into the blade.

9) Do not attempt to rip saw (cut parallel to the grain).

Press to print an acknowledgement form, sign and forward to HR.

Chainsaw Operation

Several of our facilities have Chain saws provided to cut custom lengths of timbers, BCI's etc. Operated improperly these tools can cause serious injury. Employees utilizing these in the course of their daily duties shall review the following material before using the equipment. A form is provided at the end of this material which shall be signed by the employee and forwarded to HR for filing in their personnel folder. If you have any questions regarding use of these tools contact your manager for clarification.

Press to print an acknowledgement form, sign and forward to HR.

Dispensing Propane

Solano's dispenses propane fuel at the Rental Center and Contractor Building Supply locations. Propane is a volatile liquid/gas and must be handled in a safe manner to prevent damage to facilities and/or injury to personnel. Mike Bedzyk is the corporate trainer for handling of propane containers and dispensing equipment. New employees who may be required to dispense propane (for customers or Solano equipment use) shall be provided suitable training by Mike before performing dispensing activities. All applicable employees shall be given refresher training every two years. Upon completion of initial or refresher training employees are to sign the applicable acknowledgement form and forward it to HR.

The Propane Education and Research Council has prepared a training manual for properly dispensing propane. This material shall be used for training of Solano's employees. It may be supplimented with video and hands-on demonstrations by the trainer.

The following sections should be viewed by all trainees:

#1 Introduction

#2 Propane Properties

#3 Dispensing Equipment

#4 DOT Cylinders

#5 Small Cylinders

#6 Forklift Cylinders

#7 Motorhomes/RVs

To access the manual, click on this link .

Press to print an acknowledgement form, sign and forward to HR.

https://fs23.formsite.com/BlueStarGas/form121/index.html