Explanation
The Bureau of Workers compensation (BWC) has steadfastly encouraged employers to invest toward the enhancement of occupational health and safety programs and initiatives. This legislation enables the City to do so. It clearly exhibits an ongoing effort to further promote workplace safety, efficient claims management and effective managed care. This contract allows the City to provide industrial hygiene services as required by State and Federal law. Safex has done an outstanding job of responding to the industrial hygiene needs of the City's departments and divisions throughout fiscal year 2004 and 2005. Continuing the existing contractual relationship with Safex Corporation (Compliance #311365251) enables the administration to achieve its objective of improving the level of workplace safety and decreasing the risk of exposure to injury. This female owed business has helped the City in all aspects of industrial hygiene and safety tasks in an efficient and cost effective manner.
This legislation authorizes the Director of Human Resources to enter into contract with Safex Corporation to provide industrial hygiene services and safety program assistance to all divisions. It is imperative that industrial hygiene services and safety program assistance to all divisions continues without disruption. These services have contributed significantly to the City's ability to again reduce its workplace injury claims and the hours lost as a result of injuries.
EMERGENCY: Emergency action is requested in order that industrial hygiene services and safety program assistance may continue without disruption subsequent to the passage of this legislation.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funding is being provided from the 2008 Employee Benefit Fund budget for Occupational Health & Safety purposes.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Human Resources to enter into a contract with Safex Corporation for the purpose of providing assistance as may be necessary in industrial hygiene services and safety program assistance to all divisions; to authorize the expenditure of $100,000 from the Employee Benefits Fund; to waive the competitive bid requirements of the Columbus City Codes; and to declare an emergency ($100,000).
Body
WHEREAS, the industrial hygiene services previously provided through the Occupational Health Clinic have been discontinued; and
WHEREAS, the City desires to continue to provide industrial hygiene services in an efficient, cost effective and consistent manner; and
WHEREAS, the Safex Corporation currently provides effective industrial hygiene service and safety program assistance and training for the City; and
WHEREAS, these services have assisted the City in decreasing the risk of exposure to workplace injuries; and
WHEREAS, it is in the mutual best interest of the City and all Divisions to continue the existing level of industrial hygiene service delivery, therefore requiring the waiver of the competitive bidding provisions set forth in the Columbus City Codes; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the City in that it is immediately necessary to enter into contract with Safex Corporation so that the services may continue without interruption thereby preserving the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare; Now therefore;
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of the Department of Human Resources is hereby authorized to enter into a contract with Safex Corporation to assist the City in providing industrial hygiene services and safety program assistance to all divisions.
SECTION 2. That the provisions of Chapter 329.10 of the Columbus City Codes be waived.
SECTION 3. That the expenditure of $100,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary is hereby authorized to be expended from the Employee Benefits Fund 502, Human Resources Department 46-01, Character 03, OCA 461046, Minor Object 3336 to pay the cost thereof.
SECTION 4. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is hereby declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage and approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.