NORTHEAST AMBULANCE & FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT
VOLUME I
PERSONNEL POLICIES, RULES, REGULATIONS AND
PROCEDURES
Approved as to Legal Form only by the Legal
Officer this 6/12/2007 1:35 PM
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section
1.04 Policies are Directory
Section
1.05 No Limitations on Board of
Directors
Section
1.06 No Contractual Rights
Section
1.07 Reservation of Board’s Rights
Section
1.08 Decision of Board Shall be Final
Section
2.02 Ownership of Manual
Section
4.01 Report to Duty in Uniform
Section
4.02 Uniform Designated
Section
4.03 Written Description
Section
5.01 Start & Stop Times
Article
VI. Dormitory, Kitchen &
Television Areas
Article
VII. Personal Protective Equipment
Section
7.01 Employee responsibilities
(b) Employee to Protect Property
(d) Off premises use of equipment
Section
7.02 Communication Equipment
(d) Unavailability of Off Duty
Captain
(e) Extended unavailability of off duty
Captain
Article
VIII. Protective Breathing Apparatus
& P.A.S.S.
Section
8.01 Protective Breathing Apparatus
Article
IX. General Employment Policies and
Procedures
(c) Personal information privacy
(d) Change of Address or Phone Number
(o) Misappropriation of property
(v) Returning equipment to service
Section
9.04 Miscellaneous leave
Section
9.06 Acting Officers Pay
(a) Authorized personal purchases
Section
9.09 Fire house phones
Article
X. Personal Use of District
Equipment and Building
Section
10.04 Personal Vehicles
Article
XII. Tobacco Use Policy
Section
12.01 Tobacco use prohibited in
firehouse
Article
XIII. Conduct Unbecoming an Employee of
this District
Section
13.04 Disobedience of Orders
(h) Unauthorized use of time and
equipment
Article
XIV. Officer’s Responsibility
Article
XVI. Uniform Description
Article
XVII. Probationary Employee
Requirements
Section
17.01 Probationary procedures
(m) Re-employment and Transfers
Failure of the Fire District to insist on performance of any item included herein shall not be construed as a waiver of such policy, rule, regulation or procedure, and the same shall remain in force and effect until recanted in writing.
It is the duty of each employee to maintain a complete updated set of these Personnel Policies, Rules, Regulations and Procedures.
Violation of any District policy, rule, regulation, procedure, mandate or directive may result in disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal.
These Personnel Policies, Rules, Regulations and Procedures are deemed directory to the employees of the Normandy Fire Protection District, and are subject to being unilaterally repealed, amended, modified or substituted by the Board, at will and in the Board’s sole discretion.
These Personnel Policies, Rules, Regulations and Procedures referenced herein shall place no mandates, restrictions or limitations upon the powers, duties, privileges, rights and discretion of the Board of Directors as established by Section 321.220, RSMo, by the District’s By-laws, or as otherwise granted by law
These Personnel Policies, Rules Regulations and Procedures shall vest no contractual rights, duties, limitations or privileges between District employees and the District or its Board of Directors, nor shall it place any mandates, restrictions or limitations upon the rights, privileges and discretion of the Board of Directors to unilaterally hire, discipline and terminate employees at will or to unilaterally set, amend or change both the terms and conditions of employment and these Personnel Policies, Rules, Regulations and Procedures so referenced herein, unilaterally and without limitation or restrictions, in the sole discretion of the Board of Directors
Employment with the district is and shall be and remain at the sole will and discretion of the Board of Directors, and in that respect, the Board of Directors does specifically retain and reserve unto itself the sole and unilateral powers, rights, privileges and discretion to hire, discipline, suspend, penalize and/or terminate employees or employment with the District at will, with or without cause, and within the sole discretion of the Board, notwithstanding any rule, regulation, policy, directive or procedure set forth in any Personnel Policies, Rules, Regulations or Procedures referenced herein or that may be herein or hereafter adopted by the Board regulating employment with the District
Any decision made by the Board to hire, discipline, penalize, suspend, and to set or change the terms and conditions of employment, at will and in the sole discretion of the Board, including but not limited to the Personnel Policies, Rules, Regulations and Procedures referenced herein, shall be final when made and not subject to any review or appeal by or to any other entity except the Board itself
Each employee of this District will be furnished with a copy of this manual. It will be their responsibility to become familiar with its contents and have a clear understanding of the rules and regulations contained herein. Events will arise which cannot be foreseen and for which no policy, rule, regulation or procedure has been provided. It shall be the responsibility of all employees of the Normandy Fire District to act at that time with promptness, discretion and in a manner consistent with good judgment for the problem at hand.
This manual is the property of the Normandy Fire Protection District, and shall be handled with care. It shall not be willfully soiled, defaced or marred. When leaving this District, each employee will return their manual with all other property of this District assigned to them. Replacement value of this manual is ten dollars ($10.00).
Whenever in the discretion of the Board or at the suggestion of an employee, changes in the be rules and regulations are deemed warranted, the Board shall convene a Committee to study and to recommend changes for the consideration of the Board. No change shall take effect unless and until approved by the Board of Directors, whose decision shall be final. Each Employee will be supplied with a copy of the new or deleted rule or regulation to be added to his or her rule manual.
Employees grooming of this District reporting for duty will follow the code below.
Moustaches are permissible as long as they do not wearing of the protective breathing apparatus.
Hair and sideburns shall be kept well groomed, while on duty hair shall not be extended past the collar. The employee’s hair length and style shall not interfere with their protective breathing apparatus.
Beards will not be allowed; all employees shall be clean shave with the exception of moustaches when reporting for duty.
The wearing of personal Jewelry shall be allowed as long as said Jewelry does not interfere with the performance of duty.
Any employee not performing their duties due to personal grooming or from the wearing of personal jewelry shall be subject to the Fire District’s Disciplinary Policy, and violations of this type shall be treated as serious violations.
Each Captain, Fire Fighter and
Paramedic of this District will be ready for duty by
The District’s accepted uniforms will be those uniforms that have been approved by the Board of Directors of the Normandy Fire Protection District.
Each employee will receive a written description of all articles of clothing considered to be District uniform. This written description will also specify the different classes of uniforms and when each class is to be worn.
Employees may report to duty in street clothes or other work clothes. The employee shall be in a work or class (A) uniform before going on duty.
Employees may leave duty in street clothes or other work clothes. The employee shall not change into street cloths until they are properly relieved.
All employees shall have no less that 1 class A uniform in their locker at all times. This Uniform shall be clean and ready to wear.
All employees of this District shall wear a gym type short and T-shirt as sleep wear. No employee shall be allowed to sleep cloth-less, shirt-less or in underwear alone.
Regular working hours will start at 0730 hours.
Employees may be relieved between 0700 hours and 0730 hours.
Employees wishing to leave duty before 0700 hours shall follow the Trading Time guidelines.
Any employee having three or more unexcused tardiest which have resulted in the docking of pay in a one year period will be subject to a serious violation under the District’s Disciplinary policy.
The regular working hours shall be a
twenty-four hour shift or continuous period commencing the hour of
The on duty House Captain will assign the employees on their shift areas which they will have the responsibility for cleaning and maintaining under the Department’s Standard Operating Guidelines.
The premises shall be maintained in a neat, clean and hygienic condition at all times. The premises shall be construed to mean the building, yard, walkways, etc., on or surrounding the lot on which the quarters are built.
All shift Officers, including regular and acting, will assist with all cleaning and maintenance work in quarters, unless duties assigned by a Chief Officer interfere.
No employee shall make any alterations or installations in quarters without specific permission from the Fire Chief through the chain of command; this includes installation of telephones, buzzers, heaters, stoves, public address systems, bell systems refrigerators, profit devices or machines, recreation equipment or any other additions to the furniture or facilities furnished to the District.
Work hours may be extended, at the discretion of the House Captain, if work assignments and training have not completed, or due to shortage of personnel or for any other reason requiring extension of work hours.
The on duty House Captain, depending on manpower, may hold an employee of the off going shift, until the manpower deficiencies can be worked out.
Time cards must be signed by the employee. No one shall be permitted to clock in or out another employee; provided however, that in the event an employee is prevented from clocking out due to some disability that arises after clocking in, the House Captain or Commanding Officer may clock said employee out, while noting the reason for same.
For employees involved in trading time, overtime, working out of classification, vacation or any other type of leave, the annotation on the back of the time card must contain the following information.
Name of the employee with whom the trade is being made and number of hours worked.
Date and number of overtime hours worked.
Date, working out of classification type and number of hours.
Date, type of leave and number of hours.
House Captain’s initials.
There shall be no loud or distracting noises in the dormitory during sleeping hours.
Employees shall be allowed to use their
beds between
The House Captain shall have the authority to grant the use of the employee’s bed at anytime during the shift.
No food or drink will be allowed in the dormitory areas.
All beds will be properly made at all times, when not in use by the employee.
A properly made bed will have a smooth spread. The pillow will be placed under the spread at the head of the bed. The blanket will be on the bed under the spread or folded under the pillow when in use. If not in use the blanket will be kept in the employee’s locker.
Smoking is prohibited in the dormitory areas.
Linen will be changed according to the policy outlined in the District’s Standard Operating Guidelines.
House Captain retains the authority to grant permission for the off duty use of beds.
Mattresses may be left undressed on the days linen is changed from the hours of 0730 to 1400.
No persons shall be allowed to use the slide poles except employees of this District.
The kitchen is provided primarily for the preparation and eating of meals. Relaxation time and meetings will also be allowed in this area.
After each use, dishes and utensils will be washed, dried and returned to their proper place. At no time will dishes be left in the strainer.
Smoking is prohibited in the kitchen.
Kitchen cleaning procedures will follow the District’s Standard operating Guidelines.
The television viewing areas are provided for relaxation, entertainment and training purposes.
The consumption of food and drink will be allowed in all the television viewing areas. Dishes, utensils and debris will be removed from the television viewing area immediately following their use. Employees not cleaning up their mess will be Subject to a serious violation under the District’s Disciplinary Policy.
The wearing of turn-out gear in the television viewing areas is strictly prohibited.
Smoking is prohibited in the television viewing areas.
Television viewing areas cleaning procedures will follow the District’s Standard Operating Guidelines.
Leisure use of the television will be allowed at any time once all work assignments and training for the day is completed and the House Captain has authorized its use.
All personal protective equipment issued by the District to its employees shall remain the property of the Fire District.
It will be the responsibility of all employees to insure that their personal protective equipment is not damaged from neglect, willful destruction and is safe from loss.
Personal protective equipment damaged from every day use will be replaced by the District once the damaged equipment has been turned in to an administrative officer.
The Duty Chief shall retain the authority to grant permission for the employees to take their personal protective equipment off the premises for training, personal fire safety instruction and other reasons that may arise.
The District shall issue each employee all personal protective equipment called for in the District’s Standard Operating Guideline. The employee shall not be allowed to use their own personal protective equipment without approval from an Administrative officer.
All personal protective equipment shall be kept clean and washed when soiled or contaminated.
Personal Protective equipment shall be worn in accordance with the District’s Standard Operating Guideline.
All Captains shall be issued a communication device and accessories, e.g., a cellular phone or pager, charger and spare battery. It shall be the responsibility of each Captain to make sure their communication device is operational at all times.
It shall be the responsibility of the Captain to carry the pager with them at all times while off duty.
When a code 4700 is struck, the Captain or Acting Captain, if off duty, shall immediately call into Fire Alarm to report in as a guide. The employee answering the code will receive a minimum of four (4) hours pay at time and a half. If said employee is required to stay longer than four (4) hours, the employee will receive time and a half pay from the time the code was struck until the Employee is released from duty.
If by consent of the Chief, an off duty Captain expects to be unavailable to answer a code 4700, said off duty Captain will advise the on duty House Captain thereof and have themselves logged off the communicator.
If by consent of the Chief, an off duty Captain will be unable to answer code 4700’s for an extended period of time of two or more days, the communication device and accessories shall be turned over to an off duty Acting Captain on their shift.
Protective Breathing Apparatus shall be worn in accordance with the Districts Standard Operating Guidelines.
It shall be the responsibility of each employee to make sure that their face piece is in operating condition at all times If the face piece is found to be un-operational, the problem will be reported to the House Captain, who will take the face piece out. The face piece will be given to the qualified personnel for repair.
The P.A.S.S device shall be operated in accordance with the Standard Operating Guideline.
All employees shall have a functional telephone in their residence or a cell phone and the number shall be provided to the Chief of the District.
No home or cell phone or pager numbers or other personal information shall be released about any employee of this District without the employee’s written permission.
No credit or other employee information, except upon written consent of the employee or as required by Chapter 610, RSMo, shall be released. After consultation with the Legal Officer, the Chief or his designee may release such information.
It shall be the responsibility of the employee to notify the Chief of the District of a change of name, address or phone number. This also includes a change of dependants and or marital status for tax and insurance purposes.
All employees shall report to their places of assignment, fit and able to perform their required duties, and shall not by any improper action render themselves unfit for duty.
All employees shall comply with all orders of supervisors or superiors and other approved authorities. Employees shall perform all orders as requested and directed in a prompt and efficient manner. Employees shall not verbally abuse supervisors or superiors because of orders given; nor unreasonably question or fail to perform work as requested. Verbal and physical abuse shall not be tolerated in any manner. Refusal or failure to comply with such requirements shall be considered gross insubordination.
No employee shall intentionally violate any lawful or official regulation or order and reasonable direction given by their supervisor or superior; failure to obey such regulation, order or directive amounts to insubordination or serious breach of duty.
All employees shall accord obedience, proper respect and courtesy to all Officers and Acting Officers.
All employees shall be courteous in their relationships with the public and shall avoid harsh, violent, profane and insulting language, actions and manners. Refusal to comply with such requirements shall be considered gross insubordination.
All employees shall exercise precautionary measures and good judgment to avoid injury to themselves or others while on duty.
All employees shall make truthful and accurate records and reports, and shall not make misleading entries or statements with intent to deceive or willfully mutilate any District record, book, paper or document
All employees shall report promptly to their Commanding Officers any accident, sickness or injury occurring to themselves or subordinates while on duty, no matter how trivial.
All employees shall keep themselves in readiness for duty and not absent themselves from their place of assignment without specific permission or order from their Command officer.
All employees shall remain on duty until properly relieved or otherwise directed by their Commanding Officer.
No employee shall lend, sell, give away nor appropriate to their own use any public, District or private property, nor pilfer or be guilty of theft any time during their employment. Employees may use District equipment for personal use only in accordance with section nine (9) of the rules and regulations.
All employees shall exercise caution to avoid personal injury and unnecessary damage or loss of District property, and be responsible for the safe keeping and proper care of all District property in their charge.
Employees on duty are never to leave the premises, other than on an authorized call or activity as stipulated by the Commanding Officer.
Employees may trade work hours with other employees in accordance with the Districts trading time policy.
Employees shall not make outside purchases for the District without the approval of a Chief Officer.
There shall be no gambling, fighting, beverages, drinking of alcoholic or use of illegal drugs on the premises at anytime. All employees shall be familiar and comply with the District’s drug and alcohol policies that are or may be placed into effect.
All employees shall participate in training unless excused by the Commanding Officer.
All shift employees, unless excused by the Commanding Officer, shall assist in returning equipment to service.
Snow removal shall be in accordance with the District’s policies.
Sick leave shall be accordance with the sick leave policies established by the District.
Off duty injuries will be considered sick leave, once the employee is released from their personal physician they may return to duty.
The employee must notify the on
duty House Captain of their use of sick leave by
The House Captain shall follow the District’s Standard Operating Guideline in reporting sick leave to the office.
An employee of Normandy Fire Protection District shall be guilty of the offense of Sick Leave Abuse, which is classified as a Serious Violation under the District’s Discipline and Discharge Policy, under the following circumstances:
Excused Sick Leave: Each shift day, or portion thereof, of claimed sick leave for which the Employee has submitted a physician’s statement at the time and in the manner described in Section 28.4 of the Bargaining Agreement.
Unexcused Sick Leave: Each shift day, or portion thereof, of claimed sick leave which has not been supported by a physician’s statement submitted at the time and in the manner described in Section 28.4 of the Bargaining Agreement.
An Employee commits the offense of Sick Leave Abuse when he or she accumulates five days of Unexcused Sick Leave within a calendar year.
An Employee may be excused while on duty by a Chief or House Captain when such Employee exhibits symptoms of illness, and the remainder of the shift will be counted as Excused Sick Leave. In such event, the Employee must present a physician’s statement in order for the next scheduled shift to constitute an Excused Sick Leave day.
Unexcused Sick Leave shall be accumulated from January 1 to December 31 of each calendar year.