Safety in the Workplace

EACH STAFF MEMBER’S RESPONSIBILITY

All tzevet must practice safety awareness by thinking defensively, anticipating unsafe situations and reporting unsafe conditions immediately.

Please observe the following precautions:

  1. Notify the CEO, Co-Directors, or Director of Finance & Operations of any emergency situation. If you are injured or become sick at work, no matter how slightly, you must inform your supervisor immediately.
  2. The use of alcoholic beverages, marijuana, or illegal substances during working hours will not be tolerated. The possession of alcoholic beverages, marijuana, drug paraphernalia, or illegal or controlled substances on Camp Ramah New England’s property is forbidden. 
  3. Use, adjust and repair machines and equipment only if you are trained and qualified.
  4. Know the proper lifting procedures. Get help when lifting or pushing heavy objects.
  5. Understand your job fully and follow instructions. If you are not sure of the safe procedure, don’t guess; just ask your supervisor.
  6. Know the locations, contents and use of first aid and fire fighting equipment.
  7. Comply with OSHA standards and/or applicable state job safety and health standards as written in our safety procedures manual.

A violation of a safety precaution is in itself an unsafe act.  Violation may lead to disciplinary action, up to and including discharge.

WORKPLACE VIOLENCE

Violence by tzevet or anyone else against a staff member, supervisor or member of management will not be tolerated.

If you receive or overhear any threatening communications from tzevet or an outside third party, report it to the immediate supervisor at once. Do not engage in either physical or verbal confrontation with a potentially violent individual. If you encounter an individual who is threatening immediate harm to a staff-member or visitor to our premises, contact an emergency agency (such as 911) immediately.

All reports of work-related threats will be kept confidential to the extent possible, investigated and documented. Tzevet are expected to report and participate in an investigation of any suspected or actual cases of workplace violence and will not be subjected to disciplinary consequences for such reports or cooperation.

Violations of this policy, including your failure to report or fully cooperate in Camp Ramah New England’s investigation, may result in disciplinary action, up to and including discharge.

WORKPLACE SEARCHES

To protect the property and to ensure the safety of all tzevet and hanichim, Camp Ramah New England reserves the right to conduct personal searches consistent with state law, and to inspect any packages, parcels, purses, handbags, brief cases, lunch boxes or any other possessions or articles carried to and from Camp Ramah New England’s property. In addition, Camp Ramah New England reserves the right to search any tzevets room, tzrif, vehicle, office, desk, files, locker, equipment or any other area or article on our premises. In this regard, it should be noted that all rooms, offices, desks, files, lockers, equipment, etc. are the property of Camp Ramah New England, and are issued for the use of tzevet only during their employment. Inspection may be conducted at any time at the discretion of Camp Ramah New England.

Persons entering the premises who refuse to cooperate in an inspection conducted pursuant to this policy may not be permitted to enter the premises. Tzevet working on, entering, or leaving the premises who refuse to cooperate in an inspection, as well as tzevet who after the inspection are believed to be in possession of stolen property or illegal substances, will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including discharge, if upon investigation they are found to be in violation of Camp Ramah New England’s security procedures or any other Camp Ramah New England rules and regulations.

NO WEAPONS IN THE WORKPLACE

Possession, use or sale of weapons, firearms or explosives on work premises, while operating machinery, equipment or vehicles for work-related purposes or while engaged in Camp Ramah New England business off premises is forbidden except where expressly authorized by Camp Ramah New England and permitted by state and local laws. This policy applies to all tzevet including but not limited to, those who have a valid permit to carry a firearm.

Tzevet who are aware of violations or threats of violations of this policy are required to report such violations or threats of violations to the CEO, Co-Directors, or Director of Finance & Operations immediately.

Violations of this policy will result in disciplinary action, up to and including discharge.

SUBSTANCE ABUSE, ALCOHOL & SMOKING POLICIES

It is vital that we ensure a safe, healthy and efficient working environment for our tzevet, their co-workers, and the hanichim we care for. The unlawful or improper presence or use alcohol, marijuana, or controlled substances in the workplace presents a danger to everyone. For these reasons, we have established as a condition of employment and continued employment with Camp Ramah New England the following substance abuse policy.

Tzevet are prohibited from reporting to work or working while using illegal or unauthorized substances. Tzevet are prohibited from reporting to work or working when the tzevet member uses any controlled substance, except when the use is pursuant to a doctor’s orders and the doctor advised the staff member that the substance does not adversely affect the tzevet member’s ability to safely perform their job duties.

There is no consumption of alcohol allowed for tzevet of any age on the camp grounds. There is no consumption of alcohol allowed for any tzevet of any age during any nights-off or time-off during the day. Tzevet who are over 21 years old are only allowed to drink alcohol outside of the camp premises during the first 12 hours of a 24- hour day off.

Camp Ramah New England is a smoke-free environment. There is no smoking allowed on the camp grounds. 

Tzevet are prohibited from engaging in the unlawful or unauthorized manufacture, distribution, sale or possession of alcohol, marijuana, or controlled substances in the workplace including: on Camp Ramah paid time, on Camp Ramah premises, in adjacent public land, in Camp Ramah vehicles, or while engaged in Camp Ramah activities on or off Camp Ramah premises including a camp trip. Tzevet are also prohibited from reporting for duty or remaining on duty with any alcohol in their systems. Tzevet are further prohibited from consuming alcohol during working hours, including meal and break periods. Tzevet-members may not have any marijuana or drug paraphernalia on the Camp Ramah premises for any reasons.

The above policies are in effect during the full duration of all tzevets summer employment (including time off).

Your employment or continued employment with Camp Ramah New England is conditioned upon your full compliance with the foregoing substance abuse policy. Any violation of this policy may result in disciplinary action, up to and including discharge.

Consistent with its fair employment policy, Camp Ramah New England maintains a policy of non-discrimination and reasonable accommodation with respect to recovering addicts and alcoholics, and those having a medical history reflecting treatment for substance abuse conditions. We encourage tzevet to seek assistance before their substance or alcohol use renders them unable to perform their essential job functions or jeopardizes the health and safety of themselves or others. We will attempt to assist our tzevet through referrals to rehabilitation, appropriate leaves of absence and other measures consistent with Camp Ramah policies and applicable federal, state or local laws.

Camp Ramah New England further reserves the right to take any and all appropriate and lawful actions necessary to enforce this substance abuse policy including, but not limited to, the inspection of Camp Ramah issued lockers, desks or other suspected areas of concealment, as well as a staff member’s personal property when Camp Ramah has reasonable suspicion to believe that the staff-member has violated this substance abuse policy.

EMERGENCY PROCEDURES

All tzevet will receive an Emergency Procedures Handbook when arriving at camp, and those procedures will be reviewed during Staff Week. It is critical that all tzevet become familiar with the camp’s emergency procedures.