MISCELLANEOUS POLICIES

24.1        Safety and Health Issues

24.1.1    All occupational accidents and injuries must be immediately reported to the supervisor.  The supervisor must then complete the appropriate reporting forms whenever an on-the job accident requires medical attention or time loss.

24.1.2    Safety rules have been established for the protection of employees.  Employees must develop and maintain safe work habits and use safety equipment.

24.1.3    The personal safety and health of each employee of Douglas County is of primary importance.  The prevention of occupationally-induced injuries and illnesses is of such consequence that it will be given precedence over normal operating procedures whenever necessary.  To the greatest degree possible, Department Head will provide all procedural standards required for personal safety and health in keeping with the highest standards.

24.1.4    Douglas County will maintain a safety and health program conforming with the best practices of specific departmental requirements.  To be successful, such a program must embody the proper attitude toward injury and illness prevention on the part of both supervisors and employees.  It also requires cooperation in all safety and health matters, not only between supervisor and employee, but also between each employee and his fellow workers.  To this end, and as a condition of continued employment, employees will be required to cooperate completely with all departmental and County-wide safety rules and regulations. 

Click here to download an On The Job Injury Report.

(For specific operational policies and procedures, refer to the Douglas County Safety and Health Policy in the Human Resources Procedural Manual located in each department and the Human Resources Department.)

24.2        County Policy on Patents/Copyrights

24.2.1    Douglas County encourages its employees to develop new ideas and to patent such ideas.  The County recognizes the right of employees to individually apply for patents and copyrights and to market products for which they have individual responsibility and ownership.  However, Douglas County reserves the right to patent or copyright or otherwise protect without charge or penalty, invention, product, process apparatus or design, article or publication or computer program which are developed by a County employee on or off duty using County resources.

24.2.2    This right is further defined by an "Agreement to Assign Patent Rights, Copyrights, and Other Protection Rights" which will be signed by an existing employee upon the request of the County.  However, this policy shall be applicable to all employees.

24.2.3    If the County decides not to pursue a patent, copyright or other protection it will notify the employee promptly after its decision and will reassign to the employee all rights which the employee had assigned to the County.  The County will retain all licenses to the invention, publication design or program even though it reassigns to the employee its right to the patent or copyright.

24.2.4    Any patents, copyrights, designs or programs financed by the County shall be available to other public agencies at the discretion of the County. Availability shall be conditioned on the guarantee of patent rights, copyrights or other protection being respected and protected by such other user agencies.

24.2.5    If an employee decides to individually apply for a patent or copyright either during or after the use of County resources, he will inform the Human Resources Director in writing upon application and of the final disposition.

24.3        Affirmative Action

24.3.1   The Douglas County Board of Commissioners, recognizing the need for equal opportunity in employment and reaffirming its commitment to the concept of equal opportunity as a necessary element of County employment, hereby proclaims the following:

It is the policy of Douglas County to ensure equal treatment to all persons in matters affecting, but not limited to, recruitment, employment, training, compensation, benefits, promotion, discipline, layoff, and recall practices without regard to a person's race, color, religion, national origin, sex, or age (except where sex or age are bonafide occupational qualifications).

Any officer or employee or Douglas County who willfully violates this policy shall be subject to appropriate disciplinary action.

24.3.2    Any concerns about affirmative action can be addressed to the Affirmative Action Officer in the Human Resources Department.

24.3.3    Douglas County does not discriminate on the basis of handicapped status in admission or access to, or treatment or employment in, its programs and activities.  Any concerns can be addressed to the Affirmative Action Officer in the Human Resources Department.

Douglas County Statement on Equal Employment Opportunity

Douglas County Notice: Policy of  Non-Discrimination on the Basis of Handicapped Status (05/2009)