Safety Directives

MnDOT Policy #AD008
Revised: March 29, 2021
Reviewed: February 15, 2023

Procedures for Creating Safety Directives

Please go to the MnDOT Org Chart to find specific contact information: Org Chart.

Responsible Senior Officer: Deputy Commissioner/Chief Administrative Officer
Policy Owner: Director, Office of Administration
Policy Contact: Safety Director

Policy statement

MnDOT’s workplace Safety Directives are issued to provide technical clarification for regulatory compliance or to adopt a recognized workplace safety and health best practice. Safety directives are equivalent to department-wide policy. These directives reaffirm the Department’s commitment to employee safety and health.
Safety Directives must comply with all applicable laws and labor agreements. If a conflict arises, a temporary directive may be issued pending resolution of the issue(s). MnDOT employees must follow the established procedures to create or revise Safety Directives.

Any violation of this policy, procedures, or Safety Directives, may result in disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal.

Reason for policy

Minnesota Statutes, §182.653, subdivision 8, known as the “A Workplace Incident and Injury Reduction (AWAIR) Act,” requires agencies to establish a written workplace accident and injury reduction program that promotes safe and healthy working conditions, including enforcement of safe work practices and rules. This policy and the resulting Safety Directives are a part of MnDOT’s accident and injury reduction program.

MnDOT is committed to employee safety and well-being and has the responsibility to provide a place of employment free from recognized safety and health hazards. This policy establishes Safety Directives as policy and the Department-Wide Safety Committee (DWSC) Charter assigns responsibility for developing and reviewing Safety Directives to the DWSC.

Applicability

All MnDOT employees must comply with MnDOT policies.

Key stakeholders with responsibilities under this policy include:

Department-Wide Safety Committee
Safety Director
Managers
Supervisors
All MnDOT Employees

Definitions

Safety Directive

An official mandate that is issued by MnDOT to provide technical clarification for regulatory compliance or to adopt a recognized workplace safety and health best practice.

Responsibilities

Department-Wide Safety Committee (DWSC)

Determine need and set strategic direction for Safety Directives.
Develop, review, and approve Safety Directives.
Retire obsolete Safety Directives.
The Assistant Commissioner of Workforce and Agency Services and the Assistant Commissioner of Operations sign all Safety Directives.

Safety Director

Issue and communicate Safety Directives to all managers.
Recommend retirement of obsolete Safety Directives to the Department-Wide Safety Committee.
Retain Safety Directives in accordance with the Policy line item in the Records Retention Schedule.

Managers

Advise supervisors and employees of the content and application of each directive, as appropriate.

Supervisors

Know and be familiar with this policy and Safety Directives to ensure employees maintain awareness and compliance.
Take appropriate administrative action with employees who are out of compliance with this policy and Safety Directives.

Employees

Read, understand, and comply with this policy and all Safety Directives.
Follow the established procedures to create or revise Safety Directives.

Policy Owner (Director, Office of Administration)

Review the policy every two years, or sooner as necessary, to ensure the policy remains up-to-date.
Ensure procedures and training associated with the policy remain current.
Monitor state, federal, enterprise, agency, or other requirements that apply to the policy or procedures.
Consult with the Office of Chief Counsel to ensure the policy and procedures remain compliant with all state, federal, enterprise, agency, or other requirements.
Ensure that necessary approvals by state or federal agencies are obtained before changes to the policy or procedures are implemented.
Work with the Policy Coordinator to revise the policy and/or confirm its accuracy.
Communicate policy revisions, reviews, and retirements to stakeholders.

Resources and related information

Processes, Procedures, and Instructions

Resources

Business Data Catalog (BDC) – accessible from employee Intranet
MnDOT’s Policy Website

History and updates

Adopted

April 4, 2000 (Policy #3.11)

Revised

First Revision: March 29, 2021 (Policy #AD008)

Policy Review

February 15, 2023 - Added policy owner responsibilities to match revised template.

This policy's next scheduled review is due March 2025.