4-22/005.00 - Safety/Health Hazards

4-22/005.00
SAFETY/HEALTH
HAZARDS

SH-R-49
URN
39

Station/Unit
Detective

A

For line procedures, see Volume 5, Chapter 9.

Public safety hazards apply to excavations, bodies of water, self-locking or asphyxiating appliances which are discarded or abandoned, etc.

When any unprotected or abandoned public safety hazard comes to the attention of field personnel, the following action shall be taken:

• Preliminary investigation to ascertain whether there is a violation;
• Remove or cause the owner to remove or abate the hazard if it can be done at the time investigation is made;
  • If this cannot be done immediately and the hazard warrants warning devices, steps shall be taken to provide them (e.g., barricades);
• Submit a preliminary report which shall include the following:
  • Location and description of property and hazard;
  • If hazard is an excavation, give approximate size and depth, contents, covering, fencing, location in relationship to nearest highway and number of residents within a one-half mile radius;
  • Name of the owner or persons in possession or control of the property;
  • Name of person making or maintaining the hazard; and
  • Whether any effort was made to temporarily remove or abate the hazard.
• The area patrol car shall make periodic checks of the hazard until it is corrected.

Code 399 - Misdemeanor, Miscellaneous.

Illegal dumping/
accidental
discharges/spills of hazardous
materials/wastes

See "Dumping."

If traffic related, see "Accidents, Traffic - In contract city."

Structures

SH-R-49
URN
44

Station/Unit
Detective

A

When a building creates a hazard due to deterioration, fire, vandalism, etc. and this structure is brought to the attention of the Department, a complaint report shall be completed after a visual inspection of the premises.

Premises and structures must be accurately described, as well as the condition constituting a real and present danger to the community.

The legal authority for closure or demolition of unoccupied buildings which constitute a safety hazard is Los Angeles County Code Title 26 Chapter 98 subsection 9801.  Emergency Procedures are under subsection 9813.  In either case the report shall be classified "Safety Hazard - Unoccupied Structure."  The Watch Sergeant approving such reports shall indicate that they are priority documents.

The Station/Unit detective shall investigate and, if the facts related in the SH-R-49 are substantiated, he shall immediately telephone the County Department of Public Works, Building and Safety Division, Property Rehabilitation Section.  The Station/Unit detective shall then prepare a letter for the Unit Commander's signature, to the Director of Public Works, Property Rehabilitation Section, describing the location and condition of the building, the hazard created by such condition and an opinion regarding the urgency or abatement.

The majority of contract cities have adopted the County Ordinance and are assisted by the Department of Public Works in securing premises, etc. in the same manner as unincorporated areas.  Some cities, however, have added special hearings to their ordinances.

If there is any question as to the exact status of a particular city's ordinance, the City Clerk's Office or Property Rehabilitation Section should be contacted for details.

Code 440 - Other, Noncriminal.