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Minutes 01-10-05 MINUTES OF THE SAFETY COMMITFEE MEETING HELD IN THE FIRE/POLICE TRAINING ROOM, CITY HALL, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA, ON MONDAY JANUARY 10, 2005 AT 10:00 A.M. Present: John Bebensee, Vice Chair Kevin Nugent, Vice Chair Barbara Madden, Secretary Eric Falstad Glendon Morgan Chris Mitchell Rodney Vicki Grace Wilson Danielle Crissinger Sharon Stump Barbara Scott Glenda Hall Pam Webb Mark Bobich and Gary Ezzell Recreation Fire/Ems City Clerk Golf Course ITS Development Finance/Warehouse Engineering Human Resources Library Police/Code Compliance Public Works Risk Management Utilities Absent: Tom Balfe Carisse LeJeune Brenda LeVant I. Call to Order Parks City Manager Communications Chairman Bebensee 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 December 13, 2004 Regular Meeting Ms. Crissinger noted that she did not receive the minutes and Chairman Bebensee informed her that she has been added to the distribution list. .Motion Mr. Magazine moved to approve the minutes. Motion seconded by Ms. Scott and unanimously carried. Meeting Minutes Safety Committee Meeting Boynton Beach, Florida January 10, 2005 IV. Safety Committee Education and Training Program None V. Old Business A. Fire Drills Division Chief Nugent spoke with the Fire Life Safety Division about fire drills and starting this month they will start holding unannounced drills to determine what areas needed to be addressed. They will also try to come up with uniform procedures for all Safety Coordinators to follow for fire drills. Mr. Mitchell noted that there needed to be a procedure in place for the citizens that are entering or are already in the building when a fire alarm goes off. Division Chief Nugent stated that this would be addressed, but first he would like to meet with each Safety Coordinator for their input prior to holding a drill in a particular department. Division Chief Nugent suggested that an employee be selected to stand by the door to prevent the public from entering while a fire drill was taking place. Mr. Magazine responded that this has been a major problem in the main City Hall and he would normally stand at the front entrance to keep citizens from entering the building whenever the alarm goes off. He agreed that a person in each department should be assigned for this purpose. Division Chief Nugent anticipated having something in place within the next couple of weeks and that the drills could probably begin in February. Mr. Magazine requested that the Safety Coordinators make sure that the evacuation maps are posted on the walls within their department and that staff knows the procedures involved in evacuating the building. Division Chief Nugent pointed out that it was important that people know what they are supposed to do in order to avoid any injuries. He recommended that the Departments have a walk-through with their staff so that everyone is aware of what they are supposed to do during a fire drill. The question was posed on who trained the staff in City buildings that are not located in the City Hall Complex. Division Chief Nugent stated part of their goal was to determine who those people are so that they could be properly trained. Ms. Stump noted that there was an elevator in the Children's Schoolhouse Museum and they were informed that they could not use the elevator during a fire drill. However, she pointed out that there could be people in wheelchairs or pushing baby strollers that cannot get down the stairs. Division Chief Nugent pointed out that people in wheelchairs would have to utilize the elevator. The reason that people are discouraged from using the elevators is to allow fire personnel to transport themselves and their equipment to a particular floor. Meeting Minutes Safety Committee Meeting Boynton Beach, Florida January 10, 2005 B. "Proud to be a Safe Worker" Awards Proud to be Safe Worker Awards were presented to the following personnel: Tim Calhoun, Fleet Supervisor Frank Rodriguez, Fleet Mechanic Chris Olson, Storm Water Equipment Operator Senior Diane Niesolowski, Storm Water Crew Worker Senior Patrick Franklin, Acting Crew Supervisor Senior & Heavy Equipment Operator Paul Latone, Utility Construction Pipe layer Kalem Mahdi, Utility Construction Pipe layer Rich Cruit, Street Department Equipment Operator Senior John Wylie, Storm Water/utility Construction Supervisor Mr. Bobich reported that the Utilities Department Storm Water Vac-con truck was involved in a vehicular accident when a flatbed truck struck the median on West Woolbright Road and 1-95, which jarred a large metal pin off the back of the truck. The pin bounced across the road into the path of the eastbound Vac-con truck, striking the diesel fuel tank. This collision severely damaged the Vac-con's diesel fuel system by breaking off the fuel tank drain valve. Chris Olson, the Vac-con truck operator and Diane Niesolowski, his helper on the truck, located the fuel leak and took steps to dam, absorb and contain the diesel fuel from leaking from the tank. If the fuel had leaked out, it could have entered the storm water system leading to the E-4 Canal, as well as a wellfield. Mr. Olson notified his supervisor, John Wylie, who then notified the City's Fleet Division. Tim Calhoun and Frank Rodriguez responded to the scene and absorbed the oil before any damage resulted. Pat Franklin, Paul Latone and Kalem Mahdi overheard the incident on their radio and responded to the site to assist with transferring the fuel manually from the Vac-con to vehicle #134 and assisted with spreading oil absorbing material over the spill area. Richard Cruit of the Street Department also responded to the scene with the street sweeper and cleared the road of the oil absorbent material. Everyone who responded to the site demonstrated the City's Core Values of Integrity and Stewardship with their quick thinking and actions and did a great job in keeping the fuel from reaching the drains and canal. C. Departmental Inspections & Safety Meetings (C. Magazine) Mr. Magazine reported that the reports are available on the share drive. All departmental inspections and safety meetings should be sent to him for reporting proposes. The site will be updated regularly. Meeting Minutes Safety Committee Meeting Boynton Beach, Florida January 10, 2005 D. Defensive Driver Course (C. Magazine) The course is being offered again and over 200 people have signed up for January and February. The course is mandatory for all employees who operate a City vehicle or their own vehicles regularly for City business. It is recommended that new employees take the course first. Please contact Risk Management to arrange for taking the course. Mr. Magazine noted that this was not the same course that was previously offered by the City and only some insurance companies would accept the certificate in order for employees to receive a discount on their own auto insurance. E. Incident Review Board Referrals (C. Magazine) None to report. VI. New Business A. Departmental Safety Issues Chairman Bebensee noted that several months ago he reported that there was no railing on the upper level of the parking garage on the south side. A person who used the last parking space had to exit his car next to a wall that was only knee high. He felt that this was a situation waiting for an accident to occur since it was a two-story drop. Mr. Magazine will follow through with Facilities. He had discussed this previously with Facilities, but nothing has been done. Mr. Bobich reported that none of the exit doors at the east stairwell in the East Wing in City Hall are marked "exit." He felt that this could become a danger if someone had to locate an exit at this stairwell. He requested that an exit sign be installed. Mr. Magazine stated that the fire exit is the exit that leads out to the garage and he would follow through with having a sign installed. B. Other Mr. Magazine wished to discuss the Holiday Parade that takes place on Federal Highway in the downtown area. Some years ago the Parade was held along Congress Avenue and he would like the Safety Committee to make a recommendation that the Parade be moved back permanently to Congress Avenue. Because Congress Avenue is a three-lane road, it is much wider to accommodate many of the larger groups that participate in the Parade. Federal Highway is narrow and with the people lining up along the road makes the road even narrower. He felt that this is a dangerous situation because people watching the Parade encroach onto the roadway creating problems for people in the Parade. This also raised many safety issues and residents who complained that they could not get in and out of their houses since many neighborhoods were blocked off. If the 4 Meeting Minutes Safety Committee Meeting Boynton Beach, Florida ~ January 10, 2005 Parade were moved back to Congress Avenue, the residential neighborhoods would not be impacted and it would benefit the many businesses along Congress Avenue. It was pointed out that a great deal of development was taking place at the old Motorola site, but Mr. Magazine stated that those residents would be able to exit their homes from Gateway Boulevard. Discussion took place on the timing and day of the Parade, i.e. either Saturday or Sunday. Chairman Bebensee noted that the Parade is currently held on Sunday. If the Parade were moved to Gateway it would begin at Gateway and end at Old Boynton Road. Mr. Magazine noted that there is much more parking available along this route than along Federal Highway, which is a major problem. It was noted that some of the businesses complained that the Parade hurt their business and Mr. Magazine responded that only one such business complained. Chairman Bebensee recommended holding the Parade earlier in the morning to coincide with opening of the Mall. Mr. Magazine pointed out that the stores and restaurants were very busy after the Parade and were pleased to have the Parade on Congress Avenue. Some members felt that it would not be feasible to hold the Parade on Sunday morning because it would interfere with church. Mr. Magazine was more concerned from a safety standpoint and felt it was easier to control access to and from the Parade area if it were held along Congress Avenue. With regard to timing of the Parade, Ms. Hall noted that the lining up began at noon and the parade started at 3:00 p.m. It took a long time to clear the area once the Parade was over. Chairman Bebensee also pointed out when the Parade was held along Congress Avenue, the participants lined up at the Motorola site, which is no longer available. Mr. Magazine stated that this would be a concern that would have to be addressed. There was also discussion on whether the Parade should be held in the morning or the afternoon. Most members felt that a morning Parade would be best. Division Chief Nugent inquired if the Police Department has been consulted on this change. He noted that not only would Congress Avenue have to be blocked off, but also the streets and entryways into the Mall. Mr. Bobich noted that when the Parade was held on Congress Avenue, people were able to observe the Parade from their boats along the canal. Division Chief Nugent inquired why the Parade was moved back to Federal Highway. Mr. Magazine noted that it was traditional to have the Parade along this route and the Commission requested that it be moved back. It was also noted that having the Parade along Federal Highway allowed people to walk to the Parade from their neighborhood. Meeting Minutes Safety Committee Meeting Boynton Beach, Florida January 10, 2005 Mr. Bobich pointed out that the City's trolleys would be operating in time for the next Parade and would be available to transport people to the Parade, along with the City buses. Mr. Bobich felt that it was important to get Police input before this Board made a recommendation on moving the Parade. Ms. Scott will check with the Police for their input and report her findings to the Committee. Mr. Bobich recommended that the item be tabled until the next meeting. Mr. Mitchell reported that he made a request to Facilities that the pavers in front of the West Wing be re-leveled. Ms. Crissinger stated that John Jordan, Assistant Director of Human Resources, requested that she ask the Safety Committee to come up with a list of all positions that require safety shoes. Mr. Magazine responded that employees requiring safety shoes was done by job duty, not job description, and the departments determine this. Chairman Bebensee noted that the jobs requiring safety shoes were included in the PPE. Mr. Magazine concurred that this was in the PPE, but it was not broken up by job description. The Committee left this up to the department to look at the job descriptions to determine what the job duties are because some people may have the same job description, but have different duties. VII. Announcements VIII. Next Meeting Date: Monday, February 14, 2005 at 10:00 a.m. IX. Adjournment There being no further business, the meeting property adjourned at 10:45 a.m. Respectfully submitted, Barbara M. Madden Recording Secretary (Janua~ 11,2005)