2.11 General Requirements
Vice President of Business Affairs
Office of Environmental, Health, Safety & Hazardous Waste
Purpose
- To address safety issues faced by those persons driving University or personal vehicles to conduct University business. (A University vehicle is defined as any licensed vehicle owned/leased/rented by the State Of Louisiana for University purposes.)
Responsibility
- Policies and procedures will be administered through the McNeese State University Safe Driver Program and will be coordinated by an approved Program Designee.
- The President of McNeese State University will assign said program Program Designee.
- Considering the number of persons and the amount of information and paperwork necessary in a program of such scope and caliber, the Program Designee must have the cooperation and assistance of all supervisors, employees, and student workers.
- Supervisors will determine if a new employee or student worker is required to drive on University business. If so, the new employee or student worker will be required to successfully complete the on-line driver safety program within 90 days of hire.
- The Program Designee will be responsible for providing an accurate, updated list of all authorized drivers of University state vehicles to the University physical plant.
- Only authorized drivers will be allowed to operate University vehicles.
- The Program Designee will notify each supervisor whether or not an employee is authorized to drive his/her personal vehicle to conduct University business.
- Considering the number of persons and the amount of information and paperwork necessary in a program of such scope and caliber, the Program Designee must have the cooperation and assistance of all supervisors, employees, and student workers.
Program Administration
- The program is subject to revision at any time in order to increase and enhance the safety of the University community and the general public.
- All policies and procedures outlined in this program apply to members of the University community, supervisors of employees, employees, and student workers authorized to drive either a University vehicle or personal vehicle while conducting University business or state business.
- Considering the number of persons and the amount of information and paperwork necessary in a program of such scope and caliber, the Program Designee must have the cooperation and assistance of all supervisors, employees, and student workers.
- A student worker is defined by Louisiana Office of Risk Management as any student which is employed by the University to do University business and receives a paycheck from the Student Employment Office.
- Considering the number of persons and the amount of information and paperwork necessary in a program of such scope and caliber, the Program Designee must have the cooperation and assistance of all supervisors, employees, and student workers.
- All student workers authorized to drive University vehicles to such events do so under the auspices and supervision of a University faculty or staff member.
- Student workers may only drive as relief for the faculty or staff member.
- Exception: When more than one vehicle is needed for transportation, the student worker may be authorized by a faculty or staff member driving another one of the modes of transportation.
- Student workers may only drive as relief for the faculty or staff member.
- Any member of the University community (faculty, staff and student worker) are required to successfully complete a ‘Safe Driver Course’ to be authorized to drive a University vehicle or personal vehicle driven for University business / event.
- Documentation of successful completion will be filed with the Program Administrator.
- Training is valid for a period of three years.
- Refresher training must be completed on or before the expiration date of the initial training and every three years thereafter.
Vehicle Usage
- University faculty and staff members are the only persons allowed to reserve a University vehicle.
- By reserving a University vehicle and allowing a student worker to drive the vehicle, the faculty/staff member assumes responsibility for the student worker driving the vehicle.
- Student workers are not allowed to reserve University vehicles except for Student Government when attending official meetings at a state level.
- Only those authorized drivers will be allowed to obtain a vehicle.
- The authorized driver must complete a ‘Vehicle Checklist’ (Section 7: Forms) before operating the vehicle.
- Any maintenance problem noted should be remedied before leaving the physical plant motor pool area.
- Drivers utilizing University or personal vehicles must obey all parish ordinances, and state and federal laws pertaining to the operation of a motor vehicle.
- Prior to utilizing their personal vehicle, the employee must receive written authorization from his or her supervisor allowing this action.
- Employees must provide proof of the minimum liability insurance, on his/her personal vehicle.
- All parties utilizing either a University vehicle or their personal vehicle to conduct University business must report any violation of a motor vehicle law or ordinance to his or her supervisor the next working day.
- Failure to do so may result in disciplinary actions.
- Violation of a motor vehicle law also means that the driver must take the safe driving course again within 90 days of the violation.
Document Details
Issue Date: 05/27/09
Review Date: 03/15/2021
Revision NO: 1.0
Revision Date: 06/05/09
Revision Note: None