Minutes 04-08-02MINUTES OF THE SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING HELD IN THE
FIRE/POLICE TRAINING ROOM, CITY HALL, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA
ON MONDAY, APRIL 8, 2002 at 10:00 A.M.
Present
Carisse Weise, Chairperson
Gina Barthelemy
John Bebensee
Bill Coup
Gary Ezzell
Eric Falstad
Barbara Madden
Chuck Magazine
Tom McCabe
Mike Rumpf
Tina Smith
Sharon Tierney
Norm Turner
Rod ney Vickey
Kim Williams
City Manager
Human Resources
Recreation
Library
UtilitiesANWTP
Golf Course
City Clerk's Office
Risk Management
Police
Develop ment
Utilities/EWTP
ITS
Public Works/Parks
Finance/Warehouse
Communications
Absent
Ron Rudy Fire
I. Call to Order
Chairperson Weise called the meeting to order at 10:05 a.m.
II. Roll Call
The Recording Secretary called the roll and declared that a quorum was present.
II1. Acceptance of Minutes of March 11, 2002 Regular Meeting
Motion
Mr. Coup moved to accept the minutes of the March 11, 2002 meeting. The
motion was seconded by Mr. Magazine and unanimously carried.
Meeting Minutes
Safety Committee
Boynton Beach, FL
April 8, 2002
IV.
Safety Committee Education and Training Program:
Short Program: How to Write a Safety Policy (Magazine)
Chairperson Weise announced that Mr. Magazine has put together a template to
assist the Safety Coordinators in preparing their own departmental safety
manuals. It is anticipated that each department will have their own safety manual
in addition to the City's Safety Manual. The template is on the Shrdata Drive as
noted on the bottom of page 2 of the form.
Mr. Magazine reviewed the form and explained how to complete it. With regard
to "References," if a department already utilizes other manuals and books for
references, these should be listed on the form. With regard to "Procedures," Mr.
Magazine stated that he used the Safety Manual table of contents. If you cannot
think of a particular item that might be applicable to a procedure, you could
simply state"reference City Safety Manual." The form that Mr. Magazine drafted
is not mandatory and if a department wishes to utilize their own form, they may
do so. The Departmental-Safety Policy must be dated and signed by the
Department Director.
Mr. Falstad inquired if it was necessary to list all the equipment and safety gear
that a department is required to use. Chairperson Weise answered that if this is
not stated already in your Departmental SOPs, then it must be listed. If this
information is listed elsewhere in your department and is updated on a regular
basis, it could be referenced. Chairperson Weise suggested that the Safety
Coordinators consult with their Department Directors while preparing the safety
manual.
V. Old Business
A. Fire Drills - No report
B. "Proud to be a Safe Worker" Awards - None
C. Departmental Inspections & Safety Meetings (Magazine)
Mr. Magazine is in the process of updating the reports.
D. Defensive Driver Course (Magazine)
Mr. Magazine distributed the new schedule. If you want to determine if anyone in
your department needs to take the course, please contact Risk Management.
Risk Management maintains a list of employees and the dates that they took the
course. The course is mandatory for City employees who either drive a City
vehicle or their own personal vehicle on City business. The course must be taken
Meeting Minutes
Safety Committee
Boynton Beach, FL
April 8, 2002
every three years. It is the Department's responsibility to make certain that their
employees keep up-to-date with the City's driving requirements.
E. Incident Review Board Referrals (Magazine) - None
F. Wellness Program (Magazine)
Mr. Magazine reported that the details are being finalized.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Policy
Utilities Department (Smith)
Chairperson Weise pointed out that this item had been discussed at previous
meetings and Ms. Smith was requesting that the Board review it again. Ms.
Smith said that she and her fellow employees don't feel it is necessary to wear
hard hats when driving heavy equipment between job sites. Ms. Smith
acknowledged that hard hats must be worn on the job, but not when driving
equipment on the street. The heavy equipment that they operate cannot go any
faster than 25 mph.
Chairperson Weise asked Ms. Smith if she had an opportunity to look at other
hard hats and she stated that she did. However, she couldn't find any other hard
hat that would make much difference. She and her fellow employees decided to
continue to wear what they have been wearing. Ms. Smith stated that they are
required to wear hard hats on every job and they are always kept inside the
equipment. Mr. Magazine inquired if the equipment had seat belts and Ms. Smith
stated that all equipment had seat belts except for the Libear.
Chairperson Weise pointed out that this topic has been the subject of several
discussions and everyone present is familiar with the facts. She stated further
that whatever action this Committee takes, it can always be overruled by the City
Manager. Mr. Magazine pointed out that since the Libear has no seat belt, he felt
that persons driving that equipment should be required to wear a hard hat.
Ms. Smith pointed out that operators of the equipment have never worn hard hats
while driving and only learned that it was required by attending the Safety
Committee meetings. There have never been any incidents or accidents
reported as the result of not wearing a hard hat in the cab.
Chairperson Weise called for a vote to change the City's policy to make it non-
mandatory to wear hard hats while driving heavy equipment between job sites,
with the stipulation that a hard hat must be worn while driving the Libear.
Chairperson Weise called for a show of hands. The motion carried 8-7.
Meeting Minutes
Safety Committee
Boynton Beach, FL
April 8, 2002
Mr. Magazine requested that the change in policy be included in the Utilities'
Safety Policy to state that hard hats are required on the job site, but are not
required while transporting the vehicle between job sites. Mr. Magazine will
provide Ms. Smith with a copy of the original policy in order to make the
necessary revisions. Chairperson Weise requested that the change in policy be
approved by the Department Manager and then sent to Mr. Bressner and Mr.
Magazine. Ms. Smith will follow through on this.
Chairperson Weise reported that the Code Compliance Division had spoken to
the City Manager and requested that safety shoes be a mandatory part of the
Code Compliance Officers' uniforms. Mr. Bressner agreed to this. In order for
the Code Compliance Officers to be reimbursed for their safety shoes, they must
adhere to the requirements in the policy for safety shoes.
Chairperson Weise called for a show of hands that the PPE Policy be changed to
require that safety shoes become a part of the Code Compliance Officers'
Uniforms. All members were in favor of this change.
H. Departmental Safety Standard Operational Procedures (Weise)
Addressed earlier.
I. City Hall Evacuation Notification System (Weise)
The policy and procedure have been prepared and are awaiting approval by Mr.
Wilfred Hawkins. As soon as it is approved, Chairperson Weise will e-mail a
copy to all Safety Committee members. When you receive it, please review the
document. If you see something that affects your department, please contact
Chairperson Weise. A final draft will be presented at the next Safety Committee
meeting. The system is in place and is ready to be implemented. It is anticipated
that a drill will be scheduled once the policy and procedure have been approved.
J. Safety Committee Meeting Date - Proposed Change (Discussion)
The Safety Coordinator for the Library has requested that the Committee
consider changing the meeting date. At the prior meeting members were asked
to check their schedules to determine if there are any other dates that the
meeting could be held. Chairperson Weise inquired if there were any other
members that wished to change the meeting date and there were none.
Mr. Coup stated that the reason the Library requested the change was that
Monday was the busiest morning of the week at the Library. Discussion ensued
regarding other possible dates, but it was determined that Monday mornings
were still the best. Chairperson Weise will report the Committee's action to Mr.
Hawkins and request that he speak with Ms. Farace.
Meeting Minutes
Safety Committee
Boynton Beach, FL
April 8, 2002
VI. New Business
VII.
A. Departmental Safety Issues - None
B. Other- None
Announce ments
Mr. Magazine announced the wo
Council for the month of April. A
scheduled for today and tomor
conducted by the Florida Partne~
County Safety Council is also sp(
and if anyone is interested in att~
Mr. Magazine stated if the maintel
he would make arrangements to
more employees could attend.
Mr. Rumpf reported that Don Jol
· kshops scheduled by the Palm Beach Safety
workshop on maintenance of traffic training is
row in Palm Beach Gardens and is being
ship of Safety and Health. The Palm Beach
~nsoring a similar program on May 9th and 10th
~nding, they should contact Risk Management.
lance of traffic training course were successful,
~ave the course conducted in the City so that
nson would like to have his inspectors attend
the dog bite prevention worksho ), but his crew is unable to attend the training
during working hours. Mr. Rum )f inquired if the course could be offered during
the lunch hour. Mr. Magazine stated that the workshop is four hours long and
currently, the only class scheduled is on April 30th from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Chairperson Weise announced that if any member completes their departmental
safety procedure manual, to feel free to bring it to a meeting to be reviewed by
the members. She reiterated that it should first be reviewed by the department
head.
VIII. Next Meeting Date:
Monday, May 13, 2002 at 10:00 a.m.
VIII. Adjournment
There being no further business, the meeting properly adjourned at 10:45 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Barbara M. Madden
Recording Secretary
(one tape)
(April 11, 2002)