Minutes 02-09-04MINUTES OF THE SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING HELD IN THE
FIRE/POLICE TRAINING ROOM, CITY HALL, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA
ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2004 AT 10:00 A.M.
Present
Tom Balfe, Chairman
John Bebensee, Vice Chair
Barbara Madden, Secretary
Carisse LeJeune
Frantz LaFontant
Britt Pait
Tim Valentine
Tom Egnaczyk
Dorothy Mack
Glendon Morgan
Bill Coup
Barbara Scott
George Mantell
Chuck Magazine
Mark Bobich
Absent
Brenda LeVant
Mike Rumpf
Parks
Recreation
City Clerk
City Manager
Engineering
Finance/Warehouse
Fire/EMS
Golf Course
Human Resources
ITS
Library
Police
Public Works
Risk Management
Utilities
Communications
Development
I. Call to Order
Chairman Balfe called the meeting to order at 10:10 a.m.
II. Roll Call
The Secretary called the roll and declared a quorum was present
II1. Acceptance of Minutes of January 12, 2004 Regular Meeting
Motion
Mr. Magazine moved for approval. Motion seconded by Ms. LeJeune and unanimously
carried.
Meeting Minutes
Safety Committee Meeting
Boynton Beach, Florida
February 9, 2004
IV. Safety Committee Education and Training Program
None
V. Old Business
A. Fire Drills
No report
B. "Proud to be a Safe Worker" Awards
Vice Chair Bebensee reported about an incident involving Jennifer Fall, a Recreation
employee at the Art Center. While on a bus trip, a child on the bus started to choke on a
piece of candy, which obstructed his air passage way. Through Jennifer's quick action
in performing the Heimlich maneuver on the child, the clogged candy was ejected, thus
opening up his air passage way. Vice Chair Bebensee praised Ms. Fall in saving this
child's life.
Mr. Bobich commended Pete Villanacci, Maintenance Mechanic in the Utilities
Department, for his quick response and safe worker actions in controlling an accident
that caused damage to Lift Station #808 (Cypress Creek). Mr. Bobich read into the
record the sequence of events that Mr. Villanacci took to avert a serious situation when
a citizen drove his vehicle into the lift station. When Mr. Villanacci arrived at the lift
station, the electrical panel was damaged and sparking. He put on his electrical safety
gear and turned the power off, thereby reducing the risk of severe injury to the Sheriff's
deputies that had also responded to the scene. Mr. Bobich praised Rick Smith, Mike
Taylor and Keith Ellis, who later arrived at the scene, and as a team, got the station
back on line without any loss of service to any customers. These employees also
stayed to help clean up the debris and installed a new fence to keep the station secure
and safe.
Mr. Bobich also presented a complimentary memorandum regarding Frank Rodriguez,
Mechanic II at the City's Vehicle Maintenance Division. Mr. Rodriguez was at the YMCA
after work on January 23rd to pick up his son and assisted a woman who had locked her
car keys in her car, along with her one-year old child. A Sheriff's unit and two
paramedics were already on the scene trying to open the car without any luck. When
Mr. Rodriguez saw this, he told them that he could help since he does this for a living.
After a few attempts, Mr. Rodriguez got the door open. Everyone was grateful for his
help. Mr. Bobich felt that Mr. Rodriguez's actions demonstrated the City values of
Integrity and Stewardship.
Lastly, Mr. Bobich stated that he received E-mail from Sergio Clavijo who conducted a
training session during "Dig Safely Week." Mr. Clavijo congratulated the employees for
their positive attitude and their level of training. He was also impressed with their
Meeting Minutes
Safety Committee Meeting
Boynton Beach, Florida
February 9, 2004
knowledge of the State laws as they pertained to underground damage prevention. Mr.
Clavijo requested that Mr. Bobich present a proclamation to the City Commission in
April for "Dig Safely Month," and Mr. Bobich is in the process of preparing it. Copies of
the documents presented by Mr. Bobich were presented to the Secretary for inclusion in
the record.
Vice Chair Bebensee reported that one of his lifeguards was in the Florida Keys this
weekend when a watercraft crashed in front of him. The lifeguard immediately
responded and pulled the driver out of the watercraft, who had broken his femur. He
transported him to the dock and waited until the ambulance arrived. Vice Chair
Bebensee did not receive the paperwork on this since it just happened this weekend.
C. Departmental Inspections & Safety Meetings
None
D. Defensive Drive Course
Mr. Magazine reported that they might be able to implement two programs, one for
small vehicles and one for trucks. Mr. Magazine requested that he be furnished with the
number of car/pick-up truck drivers and drivers of large trucks in each department so he
can get an idea of how many tests to order.
E. Incident Review Board Referrals
None
F. Roof Repair- City Hall Lobby
Mr. Magazine reported that he is working with Facilities on this issue and they should be
getting some estimates for the repairs.
G. Single Use Needle Container
Division Chief Valentine reported that the Fire Department is only using this type of
needle.
VI. New Business
A. Departmental Safety Issues
The Secretary reported that the Clerk's Office is wearing Nitrile gloves for purposes of
opening the mail due to the recent ricin reportings. Although it is voluntary, it has been
determined for the time being that it would be safer to wear the gloves. Mr. Magazine
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Meeting Minutes
Safety Committee Meeting
Boynton Beach, Florida
February 9, 2004
noted that this is a departmental decision and it has not been mandated. The
warehouse does stock gloves and masks for any department that wants to utilize them.
B. Other--MSDS Sheets
Mr. Bobich referred to the E-mail that Mr. Magazine sent informing the Safety
Coordinators that MSDS Sheets are available on line. Mr. Magazine noted that the
warehouse also stocks MSDS sheets, but the Web site referred to in his E-mail is
Cornell University.
Chairman Balfe reported that the Park's Department maintains MSDS sheets for every
chemical used by that Department. Having these sheets readily available on the trucks
saves a great deal of time if an employee is sprayed or ingested some kind of chemical.
Mr. Magazine pointed out that it is important that the sheets be regularly updated. The
Park's Department also maintains MSDS sheets in the chemical reom, the field office
trailer, and another near the break reom. Employees are encouraged to read up on the
chemicals before actually using them.
Mr. Bobich pointed out that there are many ways to access a chemical's MSDS sheet
on the Cornell Web site. It can be located by using the common name, trade name,
manufacturer, chemical names, etc. Mr. Magazine further noted that Cornell's Web site
is linked to the Department of Defense, which means if it was purchased by the
Department of Defense, it would be on the Web site. Mr. Magazine recommended that
those departments that look up MSDS sheets on a regular basis should mark this Web
site on their "favorites."
Chairman Balfe stated that in certain parks in the City, before spraying any chemicals in
the park, the surrounding homeowners within a certain distance of the park must be
notified. Notification is required when there is someone residing within that radius that
has allergies or a certain medical condition that prevents the City from spraying certain
kinds of chemicals.
Mr. Magazine recommended that the communities that this would apply to could be put
into the City's GIS system to be accessed by staff or outside contractors to determine if
there is a problem in this particular area. Mr. Morgan stated that this could be done.
VII. Announcements
Mr. Magazine announced that he has scheduled a 60-minute videoconference for
Thursday, February 26, 2004, entitled "Confronting and Changing Unsafe Behavior,
Managing the Human Dynamic" presented by Dr. Scott Geller, who is one of the
foremost safety people in the world. This is a good opportunity for people to receive
updates on safety issues. To date, only two departments have signed up for the
conference and he would like to have more participation. Mr. Magazine requested that
the Safety Coordinators generate more interest so that people would want to attend.
Meeting Minutes
Safety Committee Meeting
Boynton Beach, Florida
February9,2004
Anyone wanting to attend should contact Risk Management. If there is not enough
interest generated within the City, Mr. Magazine will extend invitations to other persons
outside the City.
There is also another videoconference entitled "Safety Leadership 101" presented by
Mark Hanson, the National Director of Risk Control for Oil and Gas for St. Paul
Insurance Company. Mr. Magazine read the topics that would be discussed and noted
that the videoconference is scheduled for Thursday, February 19t~ from 2:00 p.m. to
3:30 p.m. He felt that this was a very worthwhile video for Safety Coordinators. Mr.
Magazine will also send E-mail out on this videoconference as well.
VIII. Next Meeting Date: Monday, March 8, 2004 at 10:00 a.m.
IX. Adjournment
There being no further business, the meeting properly adjourned at 10:45 a.m.
Respectfully submi~ed,
Barbara M. Madden
Recording Secretary
(one tape)
(February 9, 2003)