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Corp. Counsel office is basically looking at only the appeal aspect of the program.
<br />IRVINE: Okay. And OSHA has something to do with this office? I mean, are their
<br />rules being enforced by our Safety Coordinator?
<br />BEN: The Safety Coordinator, as was mentioned, I think he's trying to educate
<br />our departments for the various OSHA rules that applies, and he's pointed out violations, but he's
<br />being stymied right now as to compliance by the departments.
<br />RAY: Marni.
<br />HERKES: That brings up something else. As a department head, he's -, as a
<br />department head, are you not responsible for following OSHA rules and keeping up on them on
<br />your own? Is it the Safety Coordinator that trains you?
<br />BEN: Yes. Right now, the Safety Coordinator is, like I say, educates the
<br />department heads about the various rules and, yes, the department head must be in compliance
<br />with the OSHA rules. I think, with no due respect to -, undue respect to Mr. Sasan, it's, you
<br />know, just giving us the rules and saying this is it doesn't tell me much about the rules.
<br />HERKES: Most of us in business have lawyers that do better. Maybe that's where the
<br />Corp. Counsel comes in.
<br />RAY:
<br />HIGASHI:
<br />Roland, did you have a question?
<br />No.
<br />RAY: All right. Just so you know, we just had Mr. Wurdeman here and, in
<br />writing, he, submitted to us these comments in regard to the Safety Coordinator. Presently, the
<br />Charter imposes upon the Safety Coordinator wide responsibilities, including the investigation of
<br />all accidents involving County personnel, vehicles, and facilities, and the inspection of all County
<br />equipment, buildings, and facilities. These responsibilities are useful, and should be performed,
<br />but to do -, to do properly so, the Safety Coordinator's office would have to be staffed far beyond
<br />the present level. The Safety Coordinator should either be abolished, and the functions be
<br />assigned to other departments, or be made a fully empowered risk manager with the authority to
<br />carry out his or her duties.
<br />We just went through that comment and discussion, and we've received similar, you know,
<br />testimony in regard to, you know, we should look at this and do something with it, yeah.
<br />HIGASHI: Mr. Ben, a hypothetical question. If this responsibility was placed under
<br />your department, and understanding workers' comp, you know, is a vast area that -, it's an
<br />expensive area for the County, do you think outsourcing a lot of these specialties would be a wise
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