COMPANY POLICY & TERMS

 

This policy manual is effective 02-2005.

 (This policy supersedes any former policies, memos, and verbal or written statements).

 

Oregon is an employment at will state.  Ore-Cal Fire/Rock Products is an employment at will company. This policy is neither a contract nor a guarantee of continued employment, but will be used by the company as a guideline only.  Ore-Cal Fire/Rock Products reserves the right to deviate from this policy and use its discretion in making all employment decisions.  Management reserves its right to employ at will and that both the Ore-Cal Fire/Rock Products and employee can terminate the employment relationship at any time for any reason.

 

Ore-Cal reserves the right to make changes to this policy.

 

Ore-Cal Fire Suppression is an Oregon based Company; all employees will be hired through an Oregon office and considered Oregon employees by the State and Federal government.  All correspondence will be directed to/from the Oregon address/office.  No correspondence will be accepted other than through the main Oregon address, not through our dispatch centers.

 

Ore-Cal Fire Suppression is an organized, interagency wildland fire fighting company.  Our job is to respond to wildland fire calls for the duration of the fire season.  We have a one-hour response time for our engine and tender crews and a two-hour response time for our handcrew personnel.  Calls may come at any time of the day or night.

 

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work is performed in a forest and rangeland environment in steep terrain where surfaces maybe extremely uneven, rocky, covered with thick tangled vegetation, etc. Temperatures are frequently extreme, both from the weather, and from the fire.  Smoke and dust conditions are frequently severe.  Hazardous nature of the work required that protective clothing be worn.

 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The work requires strenuous physical exertion for extended periods including walking, climbing, chopping, throwing, lifting, pulling and frequently carrying objects weighing fifty (50) pounds or more.  During fire season you must be in excellent physical shape and you are required and responsible to maintain your physical shape for the duration of the fire season.  This is very important for endurance and safety reasons.

 

All personnel on fire crews are required to have certified wildland fire training and are required to take a Work Capacity Test at the ARDUOUS Level which consists of walking 3 miles in under 45 minutes carrying a 45 pound pack, and show proof of said requirements.  You must carry personal ID on you at all times.

 

You may be required to be gone from your home base for 3 weeks (21 days) or longer, fully geared for a camp situation.  You will be required to have your own sleeping and camping gear, also you must have your own fire boots, and these are not provided by the company.  It is up to you to take care of your own gear.  The company is not responsible for missing or damaged personal gear.  You may rent/purchase gear from the company.  This gear will also be your responsibility.  Any items checked out to you that are not returned to the company or fire agency where obtained will be billed to you at the end of the fire season or job termination. (See attached list for required gear and suggested personal gear)

 

TRAVEL:

All personnel are required to arrive at dispatch center by their own means. Once at the dispatch center you will be assigned a vehicle to be transported to the fire.  Travel time will be paid starting from dispatch center to the fire and from the fire to the dispatch center only or by time determined by government agencies.  Travel time is only paid when departing or arriving as an organized group.  Individuals departing later for, or earlier of, other than the assigned transport, will not be paid travel time.

If a crewmember is required to leave the Incident due to illness, injury or termination, time shall terminate when crew member(s) or the crew leaves the fireline, or assignment.

Ore-Cal is not responsible for any private transportation other than the assigned transport to or from each fire assignment. 

Travel rate(s) may differ from work rate(s).

 

HOURS:

Hours vary from day to day.  Shifts are usually 12hrs for most days.  Some instances you may be expected to work until you are released or a shift change can be arranged.  This could mean anywhere from 12 to 24 hrs, this will include down time or standby time.  You may be expected to work up to 21 days before a one day off break.

 

MINIMUM AGE:

Minimum Age requirement is at least 18 years or older.

 

DRUG FREE WORK PLACE

 Employees are prohibited from engaging in the unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensing, possession or use of controlled substances and alcohol under applicable State and Federal statutes.  Possession of drugs or alcohol at an Incident Base, or project worksite, will be grounds for immediate termination of the individual(s) and/or crew module from the site.

 

Ore-Cal requires a pre-employment drug screen by all potential employees.  All pre-employment test(s) will be the responsibility of each individual and must be taken with a certified drug testing facility.  A negative result must be obtained before a hired status can result. Ore-Cal may/will request a random drug/alcohol test to anyone in a driving or supervisory position.  All employees can be subjected to drug/alcohol testing at the discretion of this employer. 

 

EXPECTED BEHAVIOR:

Ore-Cal is a very professional and organized company.  We expect our personnel to be the same.  Ore-Cal has a very excellent work and conduct record with the Forest Service and State agencies.  We will not allow any person representing our company to spoil our good reputation.  It not only hurts the company but can also mean the jobs of more than 100 people and their families.  Please conduct yourselves as ladies and gentlemen.  This means no physical contact of any kind with the opposite sex or other crewmembers, harassment of any kind will not be tolerated, i.e.: sex, age, race, or religion.  Members of the opposite sex or partner relationships may not share tent or sleeping space. (Please read additional company policies-Drug Free Workplace Act, EEO Policy, Rights of Workers, Harassment Free Workplace Policy, etc.)  If a problem arises, the Engine Boss, Crew Boss or Ore-Cal Crew Supervisor should be informed immediately.  Misconduct by one member of a crew can lead to the entire crew or company to be released from a fire incident.       

 

SAFETY:

Safety is our most prime concern for all of our people.  Safety alertness and practices are essential.  If a safety hazard arises, inform the Safety Supervisor, Crew Boss, Squad Boss or Engine Boss, before it can become a serious problem.  Working as a team and watching out for fellow crewmembers makes for a better working environment. (PLEASE BE SAFETY CONSCIOUS AT ALL TIMES)