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Minutes 01-10-00 MINUTES OF THE SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING HELD IN FIRE/POLICE TRAINING ROOM, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA MONDAY, JANUARY 10, 2000, AT 10:00 A.M. PRESENT Chuck Magazine, Chairman Risk Management Jose Alfaro Planning & Development Bob Borden Fire Rescue Mark Bobich Utilities Admin/EWTP Bill Coup Library Wendy Danysh Police Department (arrived at 10:20) Hugh McCaffrey Communication Tom Egnaczyk Golf Course Richard Fiege Public Works Tony Frazier Finance/Warehouse Barbara Madden City Clerk’s Office Wally Majors Recreation Eugene Ruffolo Utilities WWTP Sharon Tierney ITS Norman Turner Parks ABSENT Dorothy Mack Human Resources I. CALL TO ORDER Chairman Magazine called the meeting to order at 10:05 a.m. II.ROLL CALL The Recording Secretary called the roll. A quorum was declared present. III. ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES OF DECEMBER 13, 1999 REGULAR MEETING Motion Mr. Fiege moved to accept the minutes of the December 13, 1999 meeting. Motion seconded by Mr. Coup. Motion unanimously carried. IV. Safety Committee Education and Training Program MEETING MINUTES SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA JANUARY 10, 2000 Chairman Magazine stated that he would be making an ergonomics presentation today and distributed a pamphlet entitled “Ten Principles of Ergonomics”. Chairman Magazine said that recently worker comp claims have been filed due to ergonomic related issues. Chairman Magazine said that all ear rests for telephones should be removed at once and replaced with the hands-free headsets. He also said that there are now carpal tunnel syndrome and repetitive motion issues. It was pointed out that customer service has ordered the hands-free headsets. Ms. Tierney stated she has one in her department if any one wished to look at it. The presentation was comprised of the following: The definition of ergonomics, which is working within your environment. There ? are many applications in the workplace for ergonomics and one of the purposes of ergonomics is to try to avoid cumulative trauma disorders. This doesn’t necessarily have to be limited to an office setting and would apply to all work areas. Work areas should be made user friendly. ? The principles of ergonomics were explained and reviewed. ? Tools available to help eliminate injuries are - ? 1. Floor rests; 2. Wrist pads; and 3. Lumbar supports. Proper neutral positions for the work environment were reviewed. ? The proper way to move objects is to push, not pull. If a job is too large for ? one person, another person should be enlisted for help. Adopt ways to reduce excessive force. ? Keep everything within easy reach. Identify which items are used the most ? and place them within easy reach. Work at proper heights. Most work should be done at elbow height, whether ? a person is sitting or standing. Reduce excessive motions by utilizing power tools. ? Minimize fatigue and static load, which is holding the same position for a long ? period of time. There are tools available that can be used to minimize pressure points. ? Proper clearance is needed in the workspace to avoid injury. Furniture ? should be adjusted accordingly. It is important to get up from your work area to move, exercise and stretch ? during various times of the day. This could be done right within the work area. 2 MEETING MINUTES SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA JANUARY 10, 2000 Be sure to maintain a comfortable environment by ensuring that the lighting is ? good; that there is no glare on the computer screen; and that the room is neither too bright nor too dark. Make sure that when using vibrating equipment that you dampen the ? vibration. Also, there are gloves available for this. Chairman Magazine stated he is available to go to various departments to make this presentation. V. OLD BUSINESS A. Fire Drills Assistant Fire Marshal Borden said that there have been no fire drills since the last meeting. He reported that he tried to set up a fire drill with a department, but the contact person was on vacation. Assistant Fire Marshal Borden reported that if he doesn’t hear from departments to schedule fire drills, he would schedule them himself and it would be a surprise fire drill. B. Safety Newsletter Chairman Magazine pointed out that there is a new column in the newsletter and that he received his first letter to the editor, which will be published in the next newsletter. Also, the prizes that are given out are not contained in every issue and only appear in certain issues. Therefore, the entire newsletter must be read. Chairman Magazine reported that West Palm Beach now has a full color newsletter. C. “Proud to be a Safe Worker” Awards This is an award that is given to employees who perform way beyond the call of duty in the line of safety. There were no awards this month. D. Departmental Inspections & Safety Meetings Chairman Magazine said he would be distributing these to members this afternoon. E. Defensive Driver Course The updated version has just been received and Chairman Magazine said he anticipates scheduling some courses in February or March. 3 MEETING MINUTES SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA JANUARY 10, 2000 F. Safety Belt Use Project Team Mr. Bobich stated he had nothing new to report. Chairman Magazine said he is checking into getting some bumper stickers that are put out by the DOT. However, the DOT is currently out and he is going to try to have some printed up. They would be placed on all City vehicles. The slogan reads “No excuse, just buckle up”. G. Incident Review Board Referral 1. Oceanfront Park Boardwalk Slip and Fall Risks Mr. Majors reported that they tried out the new piece of equipment on the boardwalk, but it was not effective. Therefore, the old paint will be scraped up and the surface will be roughed up and the new paint which contains a grid will be applied. Assistant Fire Marshal Borden asked if the manhole cover situation has been fully addressed? Chairman Magazine said this was discussed at the last meeting and the purchase of new equipment is being looked at. Mr. Bobich said that his department still goes by their policy and they have a videotape on the subject, which shows the proper procedure for lifting the cover, or to get assistance. Assistant Fire Marshal Borden stated that there have been a great many injuries because of the lifting of manhole covers even with the existing policy. Mr. Bobich stated that the lift station crews have some new equipment and the stormwater crew should be getting new equipment. H. Safety Manual Review Chairman Magazine said he has not finished the manual, but has received some feedback, but not as much as he had anticipated. Chairman Magazine asked if any member had any suggestions or comments for the manual. Assistant Fire Marshal Borden said that before the manual is finalized the Safety Committee should give it a final review. Chairman Magazine replied that everyone has seen the manual and he has received some changes. Mr. Bobich stated he had some changes which included adding the Florida right- to-know law, which is a policy in the City’s APM and also fire and emergency procedures should be included. Mr. Bobich said he had some additional items he would like added to the manual and would forward his comments to Chairman Magazine. Chairman Magazine requested that all members review the manual to determine if there are any 4 MEETING MINUTES SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA JANUARY 10, 2000 additional changes needed that might affect that particular department or work area. Mr. Majors pointed out that the OccuCare phone number has changed and Chairman Magazine will follow through on this. VI. NEW BUSINESS A. Other Chairman Magazine reported that he received a memo from Fleet Administration, which he read to the members and requested that the memo be filed with the minutes of this meeting. To summarize the memo, it stated that some of the shop technicians are missing hundreds of dollars worth of tools. The memo further stated that there are too many other department employees walking through the shop. The memo requested that all Public Works personnel are not to enter the maintenance shop unless they contact the service desk or supervisor for authorization. Chairman Magazine said this applies to all departments. Chairman Magazine reported that last week there was a fuel spill at the gasoline tanks which nobody was aware of and after speaking with staff, he determined that some employees when filling their vehicles allow the tanks to overflow. When a spill occurs, usually that person would apply a handful of absorbent material that is available and then drive away. Chairman Magazine said that these spills need to be cleaned up and cannot be left there. Also, somebody needs to be notified. Chairman Magazine said he noted that the clips on the nozzles have been removed and employees have been using their gas caps as a wedge under the handle. Therefore, there is no way that the hose could shut off when the tank gets filled. This practice needs to be stopped at once. Last week included with the paychecks was a notice that the City is not going to do away with health insurance for employees. Chairman Magazine explained that self-insurance does not mean that employees have to buy their own insurance. Self-insurance is another type of funding mechanism that the City could adopt. There was never any plan to take away health insurance benefits from employees. Chairman Magazine reported that there is a new supply of purchase vouchers for safety shoes and any department that needs them should contact Risk Management. The department determines which shoes can be purchased. Chairman Magazine distributed to the members the 1999 Attendance Sheet showing the attendance at the Safety Meetings by Department and attendance at the Incident Review Board Meetings. The average median for attendance at the Safety Meetings is ten. 5 MEETING MINUTES SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA JANUARY 10, 2000 It was pointed out that a great many people have been walking up and down the vehicle ramps in the garage instead of using the stairs. Chairman Magazine requested that all employees be informed that they should not walk up and down the ramps in the garage and to use the stairs. Mr. Bobich said he received a copy of an email from the Clerk’s Office regarding the condition of the vault behind the customer service area. Mr. Bobich noted that the vault is getting more and more cluttered and there is a lack of short and long-term storage facilities for the entire City. It appears that the Fire Department is cluttered, customer service is crowded and there are boxes on floors and shelves in almost all City Departments. Mr. Frazier stated that a lot of storage is being brought over to the old high school, which is falling apart and the boxes are slowly falling through the floors because of the weight. Mr. Bobich inquired if it was necessary that the Clerk’s records from the 1920s had to remain in the vault and was informed they must be kept there by the Recording Secretary. Mr. Bobich said he would follow through on this and would speak with all Department heads who are storing items in the vault. VII. ANNOUNCEMENTS Chairman Magazine distributed a list of training classes that have been scheduled by the Safety Council of West Palm Beach. IX. NEXT MEETING DATE: Monday, February 14, 2000 at 10:00 a.m. Chairman Magazine distributed 1999 Safety Pins to members to pass out to their employees. Also, an insulated bag with the City logo will be given out and should be delivered to the Safety Coordinators on Wednesday for distribution. X. ADJOURNMENT Motion Mr. Coup moved that the meeting adjourn. Motion seconded by Assistant Fire Marshal Borden. The meeting properly adjourned at 11:05 a.m. Respectfully submitted, _____________________________ Barbara M. Madden Recording Secretary (one tape) 6