Minutes 01-12-04 MINUTES OF THE SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING HELD IN
THE FIRE/POLICE TRAINING ROOM, CITY HALL, BOYNTON BEACH,
FLORIDA, ON MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2004 AT 10:00 A.M.
Present
Tom Balfe, Chairman
John Bebensee, Vice Chair
Barbara Madden, Secretary
Mark Bobich
Bill Coup
Carisse LeJeune
Dorothy Mack
Chuck Magazine
Chris Mitchell
Glendon Morgan
Britt Pait
Barbara Scott
Tim Valentine
Parks
Recreation
City Clerk
Utilities
Library
City Manager
Human Resources
Risk
Development
ITS
Warehouse
Police/Code Compliance
Fire Department
Absent
Eric Falstad
Glenda Hall
Brenda LeVant
Golf Course
Public Works
Communications
I. Call to Order
Chairman Balfe called the meeting to order at 10:05 a.m. and distributed copies of the
video bookshelf catalogue to members who had not received it previously.
II. Roll Call
The Secretary called the roll and declared a quorum was present.
II1. Acceptance of Minutes of December 4, 2003 Regular Meeting
Motion
Ms. Mack moved to approve the minutes. Motion seconded by Mr. Coup and
unanimously carried.
IV. Safety Committee Education and Training Program
Meeting Minutes
Safety Committee Meeting
Boynton Beach, Florida
January 12, 2004
Committee members viewed a video produced by the Florida League of Cities that
deals specifically with being a safety coordinator.
V. Old Business
A. Fire Drills
None to report
B. "Proud to be a Safe Worker" Awards
None
C. Departmental Inspections & Safety Meetings
Mr. Magazine said that he would be sending these out by email by the end of the week.
D. Defensive Driver Course
Mr. Magazine reported that ITS is in the process of getting Smith Systems up and
running. Consideration is also being given to doing some on-street training. He
anticipated that the course should be ready within a couple of weeks.
E. Incident Review Board Referrals
Chairman Balfe reported that a firefighter/paramedic was walking to his vehicle and
when exiting the garage door, he brushed up against the door, and got a splinter in his
arm. Mr. Magazine stated that Facilities was supposed to correct this. Division Chief
Valentine will check into this and provide an update at the next meeting.
Chairman Balfe reported that a firefightedparamedic hurt his back when a stretcher
collapsed. Mr. Magazine questioned if this occurred because the Fire Department uses
two types of stretchers provided by different vendors that are not compatible. Division
Chief Valentine stated that even though two different companies provide the stretchers,
they are supposed to be compatible. Mr. Magazine stated that one of the hooks did not
work on the other stretcher.
Division Chief Valentine reported that the firefighter stated that he did everything
correctly, and he has been doing this for a long time. The stretcher was checked and it
was determined that there was nothing wrong with it. He reported that the stretchers
are serviced on a regular basis and staff is tracking the serial numbers to determine
whether one kind of stretcher has consistent problems. Division Chief Valentine noted
that the stretchers are used under all kinds of circumstances, through sand and dirt, and
mechanisms do not work properly if there is dirt or debris in the equipment. He felt that
Meeting Minutes
Safety Committee Meeting
Boynton Beach, Florida
January 12, 2004
there was probably some kind of debris that impeded the safety latch from working
properly, but he was not certain.
Mr. Magazine thought that if the Fire Department was using two kinds of stretchers that
were not compatible, there needs to be a policy in place to make sure the right stretcher
goes on the right truck. Deputy Chief Valentine reported that EMS Coordinator Landress
has set each truck up with the correct stretchers that can be tracked through their serial
numbers. Deputy Chief Valentine said that he would check to determine if the stretchers
and hooks are compatible. Mr. Magazine inquired how often the stretchers are cleaned
and Deputy Chief Valentine stated that they are constantly cleaned and wiped down.
Deputy Chief Valentine reported that the incident happened as a result of a patient
being transported out of the ambulance on a stretcher and the stretcher did not come
down properly. As a result, the firefighter/paramedic was injured because he tried to
grab the stretcher to prevent further injury to the patient. Mr. Magazine noted that after
the incident, the stretcher was put back into rotation without having an adequate
inspection to determine how this occurred. Deputy Chief Valentine stated that this is
also being addressed so that if a stretcher gets broken or does not work properly, it
would be taken out of the rotation. He also pointed out that the Fire Department is
trying to use only one manufacturer of stretchers to avoid this problem in the future.
Chairman Balfe also reported that there was another incident involving the Fire Rescue
Department. A firefightedparamedic was stuck in the palm of his hand by a single-use
container because there was a syringe in the tube and he tried to insert another one in
the tube. As a result, the syringe that was in the tube pushed through the side of the
tube, sticking him in his hand.
Chairman Balfe inquired if it was ever determined if "single use" meant using only one
syringe or "single use" as in "per call." Chief Valentine said he would check with EMS
Coordinator Landress on this. Mr. Magazine pointed out that the container had printed
on it "single use only" and the question arose whether this meant putting in one syringe,
sealing it, and after using it once, throwing it away, or whether multiple syringes could
be used at the same time.
Chairman Balfe read into the record e-mail from EMS Coordinator Mike Landress that
addressed the issues raised. A copy of the e-mail was furnished to the Secretary for
inclusion with the records of the meeting. The Fire Rescue Department has
implemented several equipment changes during the past year to eliminate needle sticks
and back injuries to their personnel by introducing the following:
1. Using Introcan Safety IV Catheters.
2. Stocking and using Vanish-Point retractable syringes.
3. All operations personnel received HIV and blood
awareness training.
borne pathogen
Meeting Minutes
Safety Committee Meeting
Boynton Beach, Florida
January 12, 2004
All operations personnel received additional training in the Department's
infectious disease protocol.
All employees received training regarding the procedures for reporting an
injury.
The e-mail also addressed the preventative maintenance program that the Fire Rescue
Department utilizes for their stretchers and pointed out that EMSAR services the
stretchers every six months. If necessary, EMSAR would come out when called, and
they maintain complete records of all maintenance performed. The e-mail also
addressed some of the remedies that Division Chief Valentine had previously brought
up.
Mr. Landress also pointed out in his e-mail that the Fire Rescue Department now uses
"Stryker stair chairs" that work on the same principal as a refrigerator dolly that utilizes
wheel and tread technology. This now eliminates the need for firefighters to pick up
patients and carry them down flights of stairs.
Mr. Magazine pointed out that he has been working with the Fire Department personnel
for the past several years regarding the needle stick issues. He commended the Fire
Department for taking the initiative to eliminate these problems. Mr. Magazine also
expressed his appreciation to Division Chief Valentine and Fire Chief Bingham for all
the work they have done in addressing these problems.
Chairman Balfe referred to a previous incident that the Committee reviewed involving
City Vehicle #613. Mr. Lee informed him that on December 16th, Fleet Maintenance
fabricated a step on the left rear of that vehicle to assist the operators with ingress and
egress. Chairman Balfe expressed kudos to Fleet Maintenance for their initiative in
preventing future injuries.
F. Roof and Mats - City Hall
Chairman Balfe inquired if Mr. Ogg ever spoke to Mr. Magazine regarding the leak in
the City Hall roof. Mr. Magazine said he would follow through on this since Mr. Ogg
never responded.
VI. New Business
A. Departmental Safety Issues
None
B. Other
VII. Announcements
4
Meeting Minutes
Safety Committee Meeting
Boynton Beach, Florida
January 12, 2004
Mr. Magazine distributed the Palm Beach County Safety Council Course Schedule for
2004. Anyone wanting to attend any of the courses should contact the Safety Council
directly.
Vice Chair Bebensee announced that Boynton Beach Ocean Rescue is now a United
States Life Saving Association Certified Agency. This means that the Ocean Rescue
team has met all training and equipment standards as a national agency.
VIII. Next Meeting Date: Monday, February 9, 2004 at 10:00 a.m.
IX. Adjournment
There being no further business, the meeting properly adjourned at 10:55 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Barbara M. Madden
Recording Secretary
(one tape)
(January 13, 2004)