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Who Is Eligible?
Individual state employees, groups of state employees, and state departments who have made a significant contribution to the health and safety of the state's workplaces, are all eligible for the GESA award. Awards recognize accomplishments beyond the normal call of duty.
Awards are NOT given to individuals whose job descriptions include safety- related duties or when those tasks are accomplished in their normal scope of work. For example, a hazardous materials specialist who completed a difficult hazmat cleanup would not be eligible for that event, but a CalTrans road crew who voluntarily designed and built an effective safety guard for their equipment would be eligible. A firefighter would not be eligible for providing CPR during a response. An office technician would be eligible for providing CPR during their work hours or in their work place, but would not be eligible for performing CPR during their off duty hours, away from the job site.
Group Awards
A group is two or more state employees acting as an inter- or intra- agency team or task force who either:
- Provided an outstanding contribution to safety or health resulting in the prevention of workplace injuries, accidents or illnesses;
- Responded to hazardous or life-threatening events;
- Who, as a cohesive work unit, drove 500,000 miles without a vehicle accident; or
- Who, as a cohesive work unit, worked 500,000 hours with no lost-time injuries.
Individual Awards
Individual awards are presented to an employee who makes an outstanding contribution to safety or health resulting in the prevention of workplace injuries, accidents or illnesses, or who responds to a hazardous or life threatening event.
Criteria
Applicable to both Group and Individual Awards
- The employee(s) is/are NOT directly responsible for safety or health programs. Members of evacuation teams, safety or assigned comittees are not eligible.
- The teamwork or response to hazardous events or project completed is outside the employees' regular job duties.
- The actions are taken during the course and scope of employment.
- The action or project is completed in the previous calendar year.
- No other GESA award was received for this action.
Documentation Required
Applicable to both Group and Individual Awards
- A summary of the actions or project (limit to 150 words or less);
- A copy of each employee's specific duty statement
(not SPB job specification);
- Written project definition and scope;
- Documented project results, such as:
- Statistics
- Reports
- Samples
- Pictures
If approved:
- Summary will be published in the GESA Program brochure
- Electronic copy of summary will be requested as a Word document
Excellence in Occupational Safety
A single Statewide award presented to an Occupational Safety employee who makes an outstanding contribution to safety or health resulting in the prevention of workplace injuries, accidents or illnesses.
Criteria
- The employee is directly responsible for safety or health programs.
- The project is completed within the employee's regular job duties.
- The action or project is completed in the previous calendar year.
- No other GESA award has been received for this action.
Documentation Required
- Summary of the actions or project in 150 words or less.
- A copy of the employee's specific duty statement (not State Personnel Board job specifications)
- Written project definition and scope.
- Documented project results, such as:
- Statistics
- Reports
- Samples
- Pictures
If approved:
- Summary will be published in the GESA Program brochure.
- Electronic copy of summary must be provided as a Word document.
Departmental Awards
Departmental awards are calculated from statistics gathered by the Office of Risk and Insurance Management. (Sorry, but you cannot nominate your department for a departmental award). Departments receive plaques for:
- Reducing workers' compensation costs and/or reducing claims; and
- Reducing vehicle accidents from the preceding year.
In order to be fair to different-sized agencies, several awards are given in each category, based on agency size or on the number of miles driven by the agency.
How do I Nominate Someone?
Download the nomination form and Excellence in Occupational Safety form. Complete the form(s) and submit it to your department's safety coordinator/department representative. If you are unable to download this/these form(s) for any reason, please contact your safety coordinator to obtain a blank nomination form. Since the need for approval by the appointing authority (the department/agency head or their designee), we regret that we are unable to accept nominations through this web site. Nominations will be solicited beginning in January 2008 for events and projects completed between January 1, 2007 and December 31, 2007.
Safety Coordinators/Department Representatives must:
- Ensure that the nomination meets the criteria and documentation requirements.
Incomplete nominations may be subject to disqualification.
- Request that the departmental/agency head or their designee sign the nomination.
- Submit it to the ORIM, Health and Safety Unit, 707 Third Street, First Floor, Room 1-460, West Sacramento, CA, 95605. Nominations may be faxed to (916) 376-5276.
- Nominations are due to the ORIM by close of business, March 21, 2008.
If you have questions, please contact:
Isabel Cortez
State Health and Safety Program
(916) 376-5308
Email: Isabel.Cortez@dgs.ca.gov
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