Policy 16.28 - Compliance and Enforcement (C&E) program staff uniforms

Effective Date: 01-February-2006
Responsible Branch: Compliance and Enforcement Branch

Scope

This policy covers uniform standards and the issuance and wearing of a uniform for those staff within the Ministry of Forests and Range who perform a compliance and enforcement function. This includes:

• Science and Technical Officers within the Compliance and Enforcement [C&E] program [C&E Technicians]; and
• Licensed Science Officers within the C&E program [C&E Foresters]; and
• District and Regional Scaling staff [Technical Enforcement Officers] that are authorised to take enforcement actions (e.g. can issue a Violation Ticket); and
• Branch staff directly involved with operational support; and
• Regional Compliance and Enforcement Managers; and
• This policy supersedes any previous Ministry Apparel Programs as it may have applied to C&E program staff; and
• This policy does not apply to District Compliance Leaders and Regional Compliance Leaders however it does not preclude those persons from wearing the approved uniform. When electing to wear the uniform, those persons will wear the uniform pursuant to this policy.

Background

The Ministry of Forests and Range C&E program is committed to building a credible and professional organisation that is recognisable and distinctive in its focus. C&E staff have been provided legal authorities and law enforcement duties that distinguish their work duties from other Ministry staff. As well, C&E staff are recognised as having a significant need to interact in an operational setting with other law enforcement agencies, forest industry employees, and the public.

A uniform effectively identifies and represents the unique character and function of C&E program staff both internal to government and externally to its client base, other enforcement organisations and members of the public.

Purpose

The uniform:

• Serves to visually establish the Forest Official as a professional person in authority and representative of the Ministry of Forests and Range;
• Defines and establishes the C&E program as a credible and professional organisation at the district, regional and provincial level;
• Aids in distinguishing roles and responsibilities within the Ministry, to Ministry clients and the public.

Definitions

"C&E" means compliance and enforcement.

"Uniform Manual" means the Compliance and Enforcement uniform manual.

"Uniformed staff" means Ministry staff performing a C&E function as described within the scope of this policy.

"OTBH" means "Opportunity To Be Heard" and or any administrative hearing.

Policy

It is Ministry policy that:

• the ministry shall supply a uniform to C&E and Scaling staff as established by this policy;
• the ministry shall be responsible for costs incurred by this policy and that are consistent with Master and Component agreements;
• the uniform shall be of a style suitable for use by women and men;
• the uniform shall be easily identifiable and designed to be practical for both office and field environments meeting the work and safety needs of the staff required to wear it;
• uniform components and insignia remain the property of the Ministry of Forests and Range.

Wearing of the Uniform

The uniform consists of the standard uniform as listed in the Uniform Manual Table 1 [the manual] and optional uniform components as identified in the manual Table 2.

Uniformed staff will wear the standard uniform when appearing in court, appearing at any OTBH or administrative hearing, participating in roadblocks, and when attending public functions.

Uniformed staff will wear the standard uniform when conducting field related activities.

Uniformed staff will wear the standard uniform when undertaking scheduled interactions with licensee staff or contractors.

Subject to the above, wearing of the uniform is optional in the office environment.

Subject to the above, the District Compliance Leader, the Regional Compliance Leader or the Regional Compliance and Enforcement Manager may determine when and where the uniform will be worn.

Uniformed staff shall not wear the uniform when off duty, other than when performing normal day-to-day functions during the course of a workday.

When more than one uniformed staff is present at a function where the uniform is worn, the Regional Compliance and Enforcement Manager, Regional Compliance Leader or District Compliance Leader, will ensure that all uniformed staff are consistently attired.

Subject to this policy, a Regional Compliance and Enforcement Manager, Regional Compliance Leader or District Compliance Leader may issue guidelines outlining the conditions under which supplemental uniform parts may be worn.

Exemptions from Wearing of Uniform

Subject to this policy, a Regional Compliance and Enforcement Manager, Regional Compliance Leader or District Compliance Leader may exempt uniformed staff from this policy for the following reasons:

• To attend a training session where the wearing of the uniform is not required;
• Operational considerations such as interviewing clients, participating in inter agency operations where uniform wear may not be appropriate, and or conducting surveillance activities; and
• Any other reason deemed to be valid.

Maintenance of the Uniform

The employee shall maintain shirts, washable trousers and other washable components of the uniform.

The employer will maintain those components of the uniform that require dry cleaning.

Guidelines for Wearing the Uniform

The following guidelines apply to every uniformed employee:

• out of date uniform parts (or old apparel program items) will not be worn or mixed with new issue uniform components unless the manual specifically allows for it;
• visible non-uniform clothing items other than field related apparel such as but not limited to cruiser vests, safety equipment [e.g. caulk boots], cold weather garments and rain gear will not be worn or mixed with the standard uniform components, and
• the District Compliance Leader may set standards subject to this policy for uniform wear at any OTBH, court, meetings with Crown Counsel, public meetings, schools, mall displays and other similar engagements.

Compliance and Enforcement Uniform Manual

The Uniform Manual provides managers and staff with details and guidelines on uniform standards, ordering and issuing uniforms, control and accounting, cleaning and maintenance, and for the replacement and disposal of uniform items.

Uniformed staff will adhere to and abide by the Uniform Manual.

The District Compliance Leader is responsible for approval of all uniform purchases.

Rules and procedures of uniforms

The Director, in conjunction with the Regional Compliance Leaders, is responsible for the establishment, implementation and administration of the uniform policy, procedures and manual as well as any amendments deemed necessary.

Proposals for procedures

Employees may make recommendations with regard to uniforms in writing to their Regional Compliance Leader and the Director of the C&E Branch. The written submission should state the rationale for the recommendation and provide sufficient details on product and costs to allow for an informed evaluation of the proposal.

Adherence to Regulation, Collective Agreements

This policy and the Uniform Manual conforms to the requirements of respective Master and Component agreements and relevant Occupational Health and Safety Regulations as administered by the Workers Compensation Board.

References

• Policy 16.5 Identification of Forest Officers and Forest Officials Uniform Manual.
• BCGEU Environmental, Technical and Operational Thirteenth Component, Article 9.
• BCGEU Master Agreement, Article 26.
• PEA Twelfth Master and Subsidiary Agreement, Article 31.