Certification Requirements: Safety Engineering and Management Program

PURPOSE: This rule outlines the requirements for certification of a safety engineering and management program. (1) The criteria of a certified safety engineering and management program, as established by an insurance carrier, shall include: (A) Administration. 1. The insurance carrier shall notify each insured employer at the time of the initial purchase of a policy and, annually thereafter, of the availability of its services pertaining to a comprehensive safety engineering and management program. 2. The insurance carrier shall designate and appoint a person to be responsible for the initiation and management of its program. 3. The insurance carrier shall coordinate or supervise the collection of information relating to worker safety to measure the effectiveness of the safety program, including the effect of the program on the employer’s injury and occupational disease incidence rate, the severity of injuries that do occur and other reports as required by the division; (B) Implementation and Management. 1. The insurance carrier shall establish a program designed to address the worker safety and health needs of its insured employer. The program shall be put in the form of a written outline and shall include— A. Provisions for providing an employer with resources to address safety and health issues and advising an employer of the availability of resources and individuals competent to address safety and health concerns; B. Provisions for assisting an insured employer to develop a comprehensive safety and health program, pertaining to the specific needs of that employer; C. Provisions for assisting an insured employer to identify health hazard exposure, as may be applicable; and D. Provisions for assisting an insured employer to conduct effective accident investigation procedures. 2. The insurance carrier, upon request, shall perform a review of its insured employer’s written program(s), and shall assist the employer in establishing a minimally acceptable written program(s). The program(s) shall be based on objectively determinable risks or loss control factors associated with an individual employer. 3. The insurance carrier, upon request, shall perform a safety and health review audit, which shall include on-site inspections, consultations or surveys as deemed appropriate and necessary to assist the employer in identifying actual or potential health and safety hazards. 4. The insurance carrier, upon request, shall provide or recommend available resources for case file management. The focus of case file management shall be on returning the injured employee to work as soon as medically possible. The insurance carrier should provide education and/or assistance to the employer in the development of modified duty programs and internal case management; and (C) Education. 1. The insurance carrier shall establish an educational training and information program designed to educate employers in the identification of health and safety hazards and the prevention of occupational injuries and illnesses. 2. The insurance carrier, upon request, shall make available to any insured employer, educational resources or information pertaining to: A. Engineering and work practice controls; B. General safety management techniques; and C. Such other information as may be appropriate. AUTHORITY: sections 287.123 and 287.650, RSMo Supp. 1993.* Emergency rule filed July 7, 1994, effective July 17, 1994, expired Nov. 13, 1994. Emergency rule filed Oct. 24, 1994, effective Nov. 14, 1994, expired March 13, 1995. Original rule filed July 8, 1994, effective Jan. 29, 1995. *Original authority: 287.123, RSMo 1993 and 287.650, RSMo 1939, amended 1949, 1961, 1980, 1993.