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Minutes 03-08-04MINUTES OF THE SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING HELD IN THE FIRE/POLICE TRAINING ROOM, CITY HALL, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA ON MONDAY, MARCH 8, 2004 AT 10:00 A.M. Present Tom Balfe, Chairman Parks John Bebensee, Vice Chair Recreation Barbara Madden, Secretary City Clerk Teresa Zabik City Manager Frantz LaFontant Engineering Dominic DeMauro Finance/Warehouse Tim Valentine Fire/EMS Tom Egnaczyk Golf Course Glendon Morgan ITS Bill Coup Library Barbara Scott Police Mike Rumpf Development Glenda Hall Public Works Chuck Magazine Risk Management Mark Bobich Utilities Absent Brenda Levant Communications Dorothy Mack Human Resources 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 III. Acceptance of Minutes of February 9, 2004 Regular Meeting Vice Chair Bebensee requested that on Page 3, in the first full paragraph, the word watercraft" be changed to "aircraft" in two places. Motion Mr. Coup moved for approval. Motion seconded by Vice Chair Bebensee and unanimously carried. Meeting Minutes Safety Committee Meeting Boynton Beach, Florida March 8, 2004 A copy of the congratulatory memo dated February 13, 2004 from Vice Chair Bebensee to Jeff Maki, Ocean Lifeguard, was provided to the Recording Secretary for inclusion in the meeting records. IV. Safety Committee Education and Training Program The Committee viewed a safety video entitled "General Office Safety." Mr. Magazine announced that there were two audio conferences presented last month. The turnout was less than anticipated, but he is hoping that more people will attend future conferences when they are offered. In any event, he felt that the conferences were worthwhile for those people who did attend. V. Old Business A. Fire Drills None to report. Mr. Magazine will be meeting with the new Fire Marshal once he comes onboard and requested that Division Chief Valentine let him know when he is appointed. B. "Proud to be a Safe Worker" Awards Mr. Bobich announced that Pat Franklin and Chris Olson of the Utilities Stormwater Division witnessed a truck accident at the Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant. Through their quick response, the driver of the truck, who had already gotten out, was informed that his dump truck bed had struck a high-tension wire, thus avoiding any possible injury. They called fire rescue and notified the regional plant operators. Mr. Bobich presented a copy of the award to the Secretary for inclusion with the records of the meeting. C. Departmental Inspections & Safety Meetings Mr. Magazine will be distributing the reports sometime next week. Any outstanding reports should be sent to him as soon as possible. D. Defensive Driver Course Mr. Magazine reported that he only received a response from one department regarding the number of small vehicles versus trucks. Therefore, he will be purchasing tests for eight small vehicles and four for trucks. As soon as the programs are received and installed, everyone will be notified. E. Incident Review Board Referrals Mr. Magazine distributed a copy of the Supervisor's Report of Accident involving employee Clifford Rockey. He pointed out that the IRB is a sub -committee and derives 2 Meeting Minutes Safety Committee Meeting Boynton Beach, Florida March 8, 2004 its authority from the Safety Committee. Recently there was a case that came before the IRB and it was decided to refer the case back to the Safety Committee to make a determination. Members reviewed the information contained in the handout. Chairman Balfe asked Division Chief Valentine if he felt the situation could have been done differently to prevent the trench wall from caving in. Division Chief Valentine, after reading the information, did not think that anything different could have been done. He pointed out that in South Florida, sand easily collapses. Division Chief Valentine noted that Mr. Bobich sent him pictures of the trench that showed that the trench was quite deep. When trenches collapse it can be catastrophic. He pointed out that the crew did have trench protection set up and were doing their job as safely as they could. Originally, Division Chief Valentine had concerns because these kinds of incidents could be fatal since one cubic yard of sand weighs around 3,000 pounds. Mr. Bobich distributed the photos for the other members to view. Division Chief Valentine wanted the incident readdressed to ensure that everything that could have been done was and after looking at the information, he feels that it was. Division Chief Valentine pointed out that at the IRB meeting, there was a difference of opinion among the attendees as to whether or not the scene was safe. Mr. Magazine stated that after the incident, Mr. Rockey came into his office and advised Mr. Magazine that he felt that the site was not safe for him to enter the hole. Mr. Magazine was concerned about this remark. He referred to the handout that included a certificate that Mr. Rockey received for excavation training on February 6, 2003 that stated that Mr. Rockey was an "OSHA Competent Person for Excavation". Mr. Magazine was concerned that if Mr. Rockey felt that the trench was unsafe, why did he enter the trench. Mr. Magazine also noted that they were using a "vaccon truck" and questioned why Mr. Rockey entered the hole, when they could have used the truck to excavate the sand. Mr. Magazine felt that the incident was preventable because (1) Mr. Rockey was trained to determine if the site was safe or unsafe, (2) he informed Mr. Magazine that it was unsafe, and (3) he took it upon himself to enter the hole, even though it was not necessary. Mr. Bobich pointed out that the crew uses a vaccon truck because there are pipes and waterlines in the way. If there was water in the trench, Division Chief Valentine felt that this could create another danger. Mr. Bobich noted that there was sufficient water in the trench that a pump was used to draw out the water. Division Chief Valentine recommended that when these types of excavations take place, it would be wise for the Fire Department to be present in the event an accident does happen. Mr. Rumpf inquired if there were any photos of the actual incident and Mr. Bobich stated that none were taken. 3 Meeting Minutes Safety Committee Meeting Boynton Beach, Florida March 8, 2004 Mr. Magazine reported that Mr. Rockey had recently had some non -work related knee surgery on the same knee that was injured. He pointed out, however, that Mr. Rockey had been released by his doctor to return to work. Mr. Coup inquired if the employee was back at work and was informed that he was. Mr. Rumpf inquired if the remark made by Mr. Rockey that the hole was unsafe was on the record and Mr. Magazine stated that it was a statement made in his office after the incident. There is no written documentation confirming the statement. Division Chief Valentine thought that if Mr. Rockey felt that the hole was not safe, he should not have entered it. Mr. Magazine noted that the Safety Committee was being asked to make a determination on whether the incident was preventable or non -preventable on the part of Mr. Rockey. A question was asked what would happen if an incident was found to be preventable or non -preventable. Mr. Magazine responded that if the incident was determined to be preventable, his department will then determine whether there should be disciplinary action taken and it will be included in his evaluation. Also, that person would not receive the safety award this year. Chairman Balfe asked if the Committee should take into consideration the statement that Mr. Rockey made to Mr. Magazine. Since it was made off the record, it was determined that it could not be used. Mr. Bobich said that he had visited Mr. Rockey when he came out of the hospital and he never mentioned anything about the trench being unsafe. Chairman Balfe called for a show of hands by all persons who felt that the accident was preventable. The vote was four (4). Chairman Balfe called for a show of hands by all persons who felt that the accident was non -preventable. The vote was nine (9) There were two (2) members that abstained from voting. Mr. Magazine noted that following the IRB meeting, instructions were given to Utilities to contact the Fire Department every time there is an excavation. Mr. Magazine requested that the Safety Committee rescind these instructions, because after today's discussion, he did not feel that it was necessary. Motion Mr. Magazine moved that the Safety Committee rescind the order by the IRB to require Fire Department notification on each and every excavation. Motion seconded by Vice Chair Bebensee and unanimously carried. rd Meeting Minutes Safety Committee Meeting Boynton Beach, Florida March 8, 2004 VI. New Business Chairman Balfe noted that Seatbelt Use should be under New Business and not as Item V.F. under Old Business A. "Departmental Safety Issues" Vice Chairman Bebensee inquired who the contract would be under Dispatch. Mr. Magazine recommended that if Vice Chair Bebensee had something important, he should contact Wilfred Hawkins, Assistant City Manager. Mr. Magazine reported that an incident occurred in a department recently and as a result, the supervisor is being held accountable for inaction as it applies to safety related issues. It is being recommended that this supervisor receive disciplinary action, including suspension, because the supervisor did not monitor his employee properly when it came to safety. Supervisors will be held accountable for the actions of their employees when it comes to safety-related issues. The Old High School was tented last week and the building will be monitored from an environmental and safety standpoint. The building will not be reopened for storage to anyone. Mr. Magazine reported that the City Commission has authorized spending up to $300,000 to bring the building in shape to begin renovations. No use has been determined. B. Other C. Seatbelt Use Chairman Balfe noted that he received E -Mail from Bob Lee, who pointed out that he sees many City employees not using their seatbelts, especially employees entering and leaving the Public Works Compound. Chairperson Balfe has seen some Citizen Patrol Officers not wearing seatbelts. Even though they are volunteer employees, they are part of the City and subject to the same City rules while driving a City vehicle. Mr. Magazine noted that he has also observed a great many City employees not wearing seatbelts. If Mr. Magazine sees a City vehicle being operated without the employee and/or his passengers wearing their seatbelts, he will no longer report it to the department head. Instead, he will be pulling the vehicles over and calling the supervisors to come get their employees. Mr. Magazine would like each Safety Committee member to ride around the City for two hours per month looking for safety related issues. If any employees are observed driving City vehicles without their seatbelts, do not pull them over; but write down the location, date and time, and vehicle number and submit it to Mr. Magazine. Mr. Magazine noted that there is an initiative in Tallahassee to make not wearing a seatbelt a priority offense, which would allow a police officer to stop that vehicle and 5 Meeting Minutes safety Committee Meeting March 8, 2004 Boynton Beach, Florida give them a ticket. There is no valid excuse for a person, whether he is the driver or a passenger, for not wearing a seatbelt. VII. Announcements Mr. Magazine announced that the City would be receiving an award at the Palm Beach County Safety Committee Luncheon on Thursday, March 11th. VIII. Next Meeting Date: Monday, April 12, 2004 at 10:00 a.m. IX. Adjournment There being no further business, the meeting properly adjourned at 11:10 a.m. Respectfully submitted, Barbara M. Madden Recording Secretary (one tape) (March 15, 2004) 0