New York Codes, Rules and Regulations › Title 21 - Miscellaneous › Chapter I - Waterfront Commission Of New York Harbor › Part 5 - Port Watchman › General Provisions › Section 5.19 - Standards of conduct

Current through Register Vol. 46, No. 28, July 10, 2024
(a) Any license
				  or temporary permit issued to a port watchman may be revoked or suspended for
				  such periods as the commission deems in the public interest, or the licensee
				  reprimanded for any act or conduct in violation of the act or these
				  regulations. Every port watchman is responsible for and subject to these rules
				  and any breach of these rules may result in revocation or suspension of any
				  temporary permit or license.
(b)
				  Among other things, failure by a port watchman to adhere to the following
				  standards of conduct, and any terms or conditions of his license or temporary
				  permit, will be considered by the commission in determining whether the license
				  or temporary permit should be revoked or suspended. Every port watchman shall:
General Requirements
(1) have in his possession at all times while
				  on duty his license or temporary permit;
(2) wear his Waterfront Commission uniform as
				  required by these regulations; and only in the performance of his duties as a
				  port watchman;
(3) wear a cap or
				  safety helmet as required by these regulations;
(4) before completing his tour of duty,
				  submit to his immediate superior a detailed written report of any theft or
				  attempted theft of cargo or suspicious activity which comes to his attention
				  during such tour;
(5) remain at his
				  assigned post, except when his duties as a port watchman require otherwise or
				  unless otherwise authorized by his supervisor;
(6) be in a sober condition and refrain from
				  consuming any intoxicating beverage while on duty;
(7) remain awake while on duty;
(8) refrain from smoking or carrying lighted
				  cigarettes, cigars or pipes in prohibited areas;
(9) while on duty, comply with any special
				  requirements of his license or temporary permit, to meet the physical fitness
				  standards of section
				  5.6 of this Part;
(10) while assigned to guard an entrance or
				  exit to any pier or waterfront terminal, check and collect gate passes from all
				  trucks leaving the pier or terminal where gate passes are issued on such pier
				  or terminal;
(11) while assigned to
				  guard an entrance or exit to any pier or waterfront terminal, examine any motor
				  vehicle and its contents where there is reasonable ground to believe that such
				  motor vehicle is carrying merchandise from the pier or terminal without
				  authority;
(12) perform the duties
				  assigned to him in a diligent, conscientious and careful manner;
(13) keep and maintain his memorandum book as
				  required by these regulations;
(14)
				  know the location and operation of fire alarms and fire fighting equipment, the
				  location of emergency exits, telephones, first aid stations, information booth,
				  key stations, the names and telephone numbers of police, fire department,
				  hospital and ambulance services;
(15) report any on-the-job injuries
				  immediately;
(16) record all
				  security violations and safety hazards observed in their memorandum book, the
				  Waterfront Commission log books or an other designated Waterfront Commission
				  report forms;
(17) be at their post
				  ready to commence their duties at the scheduled time; a security officer is not
				  required to arrive earlier, and should not arrive later, but should arrive at
				  the scheduled time;
(18) not accept
				  relief by another security officer who is unfit to assume the post by reasons
				  of intoxication, breath smelling of liquor, illness or other condition which
				  might prevent him from performing the required duties. If while on duty a
				  security officer's relief arrives in what appears to be an intoxicated
				  condition, the security officer must contact his supervisor and explain the
				  situation. The security officer on duty must make the necessary notifications
				  and request assistance to insure that after the intoxicated employee is denied
				  access to the post that he does not endanger himself or the general
				  public;
(19) while on duty, stay on
				  the shift until properly relieved or excused, and security officers must not
				  remain at their post once relieved unless requested by a supervisor or company
				  representative;
(20) refrain from
				  the use of profane, indecent or abusive language or gestures;
(21) refrain from acting in a rude or
				  boisterous manner;
(22) not ask for
				  or receive any tips or other gratuities;
(23) not discuss information of any kind
				  concerning his duty assignment with anyone except his relief, supervisor or
				  recognized company representative or representatives of the Waterfront
				  Commission;
(24) not bring to or
				  use on post, newspapers, magazines, radio, recorder/playback device, or a
				  television set; unless otherwise authorized by the employer;
(25) not loiter or lie down while on
				  duty;
(26) not prepare, initiate or
				  submit false reports;
(27) not use
				  any company-owned equipment without having obtained prior approval nor permit
				  any other unauthorized person to do so;
(28) not loan facility keys, which are
				  entrusted to his care, to any person not authorized by the company to possess
				  them;
(29) not permit himself to be
				  visited by friends, acquaintances, or relatives while on duty;
(30) not steal or engage in any form of theft
				  or pilferage;
(31) not cause
				  destruction to or loss of company or facility property;
(32) not gamble on duty;
(33) not report to work under the influence
				  of alcohol or drugs;
(34) not
				  possess or use alcohol or drugs while on duty;
(35) not engage in immoral or indecent
				  behavior;
(36) not carry a weapon
				  while on duty unless authorized;
(37) not misuse the badge, uniform or
				  identification;
Obey Laws
(38) set an example by obeying all employer's
				  rules and policies, Rules and Regulations of the Waterfront Commission, as well
				  as the laws of the United States, State, county, city or
				  municipality;
(39) in the case of a
				  serious unlawful incident (i.e., assault, breaking and entering, larceny, etc.)
				  it may be necessary for an arrest warrant to be obtained against the individual
				  or individuals from the appropriate jurisdiction. NO PORT WATCHMAN will obtain
				  or sign such an arrest warrant. (It is the security officer's responsibility to
				  immediately notify the company or the police authorities, and his/her immediate
				  supervisor of such incident.) It is the responsibility of the COMPANY'S
				  MANAGEMENT STAFF TO OBTAIN AN ARREST WARRANT. Security officers will provide
				  all information of which they are aware relating to the incident to the
				  Waterfront Commission. The information provided shall be factual in order for
				  the company to make the proper decision concerning an arrest warrant;
Appearance
(40) when in uniform, be neat and clean in
				  appearance, and when on duty, the security officer shall wear the complete
				  uniform as prescribed by the Waterfront Commission. Proper neatness and
				  cleanliness in appearance means that:
(i)
				  leather and brass will be polished;
(ii) shoes will be shined;
(iii) hair will be neatly cut and combed and
				  hair should be worn so as to prevent it from standing out when the cap or hat
				  is worn, or extending below the top of shirt or jacket collar; reasonable
				  accommodation on the basis of religious beliefs or for substantiated medical
				  reasons will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Exceptions for medically
				  approved dermatological reasons require a statement from a physician.
				  Management may periodically request certification that the medial condition
				  still exists;
(iv) the uniform will
				  be pressed. It may be cleaned by washing or dry cleaning, depending on employee
				  preference;
(v) the uniform hat or
				  cap will be worn squarely on the head;
(vi) the belt will be worn through the belt
				  loops of the uniform trousers; and
(vii) no insignia, emblems, buttons, or items
				  other than those issued or authorized by Waterfront Commission will be worn on
				  or with the uniform;
Courtesy
(41) act courteously to all persons he
				  encounters; the security officer usually is the first contact that a visitor
				  has with a company, the manner in which the security officer greets the
				  visitor, answers questions and provides necessary directions or guidance
				  creates the important first impression; and
The Uniform
(42) only wear Waterfront Commission approved
				  uniforms except when, upon request of an employer, the commission authorizes
				  differently. The uniform is the basic item of the security officer. It should
				  be worn with dignity and pride. The uniform identifies the security officer as
				  a figure of authority.
(i) The security
				  officer's uniform consists of:
(a) shirts -
				  blue (navy) or white - long and short sleeve;
(b) winter jacket - orange with
				  high-visibility;
(c) windbreaker -
				  orange with high-visibility;
(d)
				  vest - blue (navy) with green florescent outline;
(e) pants/trousers - blue (navy);
(f) hat - baseball cap blue (navy) with
				  Waterfront Commission patch;
(g)
				  watch hat - wool - blue (navy) - to be worn for outside duty in cool or cold
				  climates;
(h) belt - black and must
				  be worn within the belt loops of the uniform trousers;
(i) boots or shoes - black;
(j) flashlight, standard maglight;
(k) badge - only the Waterfront Commission
				  badge which must be worn on the outmost garment; and
(l) non-issue items: socks - black solid
				  color socks will be worn with the uniform. If a person, because of a foot
				  problem, must wear white socks, they will obtain those with white feet and dark
				  tops; and
(m) with the approval of
				  the commission, where deemed appropriated, a blue (dark) jump suit may be worn.
				  Such a jump suit must be worn in conjunction with a safety vest.
(ii) The uniform shall not be
				  worn, complete or in part, while off duty except as necessary to commute to and
				  from the assigned place of duty.