Louisville Metro (KY) Police Department | Health Safety Officer Booklet

Louisville Metro (KY) Police Department | Health Safety Officer Booklet

Louisville Metro (KY) Police Department

State: KY

PDF Resource

The Health and Safety Officers (HSO) team at Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) consists of one full-time officer and 17 part-time officers from various units in the department. They are responsible for responding to any occupational exposure of officers and other LMPD employees, as well as overseeing the respiratory protection program and providing CPR, first aid, and TACMED training to all officers. They also work directly with the LMPD surgeon and are part of the LMPD Wellness Unit.

The Wellness Unit team layout includes a Safety Director who is responsible for the overall safety of the department, procurement of medical and PPE equipment, budget oversight, and training development and certifications for the department. The Deputy Commander of the part-time team maintains records associated with officer exposures, investigates complaints, and ensures OSHA compliance. The Deputy Commander assists the team, helps with development of instructions and certifications, coordinates safety responses with other agencies, and maintains records of certifications and exposures of LMPD personnel. The HSO Officers consist of 4 squads of 4 officers each and respond to officer exposures and critical incidents, as well as assist in training the department in first aid, CPR, and TACMED.

Established in October 2023, the Summit Wellness Center is a three-story facility that offers Louisville Metro Police officers and professional staff various resources to enhance their physical, mental, spiritual, social, and financial well-being. This center includes a fully equipped gym, café, lounge, meditation room, conference room, mental health counselors, basketball/pickleball court, physical therapy studio, classroom/fitness studio, and a first aid station. The Summit Wellness Center exemplifies the successful partnership between private and public organizations in prioritizing the overall health and wellness of Louisville’s first responders, aiming to improve the city’s livability and work environment.

In case of exposure, the HSOs respond to assist exposed officers with paperwork and obtaining a blood sample from the exposure source. University Hospital is the initial facility of choice for treatment unless there is a life-threatening injury to the source or officer. The exposure source’s blood sample is subjected to a rapid HIV and Hepatitis panel, and prophylaxis meds are given as needed.

The respiratory protection program includes Avon Air purifying respirators and annual fit testing per OSHA requirements. Fit testing is required prior to initial use, whenever a different respirator facepiece is used, and at least annually thereafter. An additional fit test is required whenever there are observed physical changes that could affect respirator fit.

The patrol PPE kit provides any PPE the officer needs, and Metrosafe sends text messages as pages. They are sent only once, so it’s recommended to set an obnoxious tone for such notifications. Additionally, Medvend machines will be located in all areas to provide necessary supplies.

In summary, the health and safety team at LMPD plays a crucial role in ensuring the well-being of officers and metro employees, providing necessary training and equipment, and responding effectively to occupational exposures and critical incidents.