Department of the Interior
Departmental Manual
Effective Date: 3/12/99
Series: Safety Management
Part 485: Safety and Occupational Health Program
Chapter 1: Authority, Purpose, and Policy
Originating Office: Office of Managing Risk and Public Safety
485 DM 1
1.1 Authority.
A. Public Law 91-596, "Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970," Sections 6 and 19.
B. Executive Order 12196, "Occupational Safety and Health Programs for Federal Employees."
C. Title 29, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 1960, "Basic Program Elements for Federal Employee Occupational Safety and Health Programs and Related Matters."
D. 43 U.S. Code Section 1457 (refers to public safety).
1.2 Purpose. To set forth the policy for the implementation and administration of the Safety and Occupational Health Program (Program) for the Department of the Interior (Department). (Part 485 DM also encompasses motor vehicle safety which was previously covered in 488 DM.)
1.3 Policy. It is the policy of the Department to:
A. Provide safe and healthful working conditions to protect employees and the visiting public from injuries/illnesses and property from accidental damage.
B. Include safety and occupational health as an integral part of every operation.
C. Hold managers and supervisors accountable and provide them recognition for implementation and management of the Program within their scope of authority and responsibility.
D. Establish and maintain a staff of safety and occupational health professionals, and collateral-duty safety and occupational health officers at appropriate levels within the Department, to advise management in the development and implementation of an effective safety and occupational health program. (See Chapter 11.)
E. Require that no employee be subjected to restraint, interference, coercion, discrimination, or reprisal for filing a report of an alleged unsafe or unhealthful working condition, or otherwise participating in the Program.
F. Provide employees the supervision, knowledge and skills necessary to safely perform their assigned tasks. (See Chapter 13.)
G. Require employees and supervisors to identify and correct unsafe and unhealthful conditions, and to know and follow safe and healthful work rules and practices. (See Chapter 8.)
H. Use safety and health committees, where bureaus deem appropriate, to enhance the Program. (See Chapter 9.)
I. Comply with applicable Program requirements of Executive Order 12196, 29 CFR 1960, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and adopted national consensus standards. (See Chapter 4.)
J. Promote off-the-job safety and health of employees through on-the-job safety and health activities. (See Chapter 26.)
K. Incorporate and enforce appropriate safety and health performance clause(s) in contracts with concessionaires and contractors. (See Chapters 24 and 25.)
3/12/99 #3231
Replaces 6/10/91 #2914