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Minutes 01-12-98 MINUTES OF THE SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING HELD IN THE POLICE/FIRE TRAINING ROOM, CITY HALL, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA, ON MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 1998, AT 10:00 A.M. PRESENT Mike Rumpf, Chairman - Planning Ken Hall, Vice Chairman - Development Eve Eubanks - City Clerk’s Office Hugh McCaffrey - Communications Michael Collin - Facilities Bill Atkins - Finance Bob Borden - Fire Rescue Chris Gamble - Golf Course John Wildner - Parks David Egnor - Police Bob Lee - Public Works Wally Majors - Recreation Chuck Magazine - Risk Management Mark Bobich - Utilities Administration & EWTP Arthur Lee - Ex Officio Member ABSENT A. D. Henehan, Jr. - Library Tom Fitzgerald - Utilities WWTP I. CALL TO ORDER Chairman Rumpf called the meeting to order at 10:07 a.m. II. ROLL CALL The Recording Secretary called the roll. Mr. Art Lee was not yet present. III. ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES No additions, deletions, or corrections were made to the minutes of the last meeting. Motion Vice Chairman Hall moved to approve the minutes of the December 8, 1997 meeting as submitted. Mr. Lee seconded the motion, which carried unanimously. MINUTES SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA JANUARY 12, 1998 IV. SAFETY COMMITTEE EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAM: Video – “Hand & Power Tool Safety” Mr. Magazine showed a 13-minute video regarding hand and power tool safety. This video is available from the video library in Risk Management. Mr. Art Lee arrived during the showing of this video. V. OLD BUSINESS A. Fire Drills A copy of Mr. Borden’s reports on the emergency evacuation drills in the Police Department and the Fire Department was distributed to the members of the committee. Mr. Magazine asked if gathering points have been identified for everybody. Mr. Borden referred to his report on the Police Department drill. He recommended that employees who are assigned squad cars remove their squad cars from the garage if there is a possibility that the fire could involve the garage. If not, they should go across the street to the parking area. It is not safe to exit the building into the parking garage. Chairman Rumpf inquired about announcing when it is safe to go back into a building. Mr. Borden advised that there has been a suggestion that either the Fire Department or someone in the department that is having a fire or a drill remain outside closer to the building so that people do not go back in before it is safe to do so. He pointed out that the Fire Department does not have a system to sound an alarm so that people will know it is safe to go back into the building. This has to be done verbally. B. Accident Review Board Referral 1. Parking Garage Basement Lighting Mr. Magazine advised that he is still waiting to hear from Bill DeBeck. He will contact him again. C.Parking Garage Flooring (i.e. very slippery when wet) Mr. Magazine advised that he is still waiting to hear from Bill DeBeck. He will contact him again. 2 MINUTES SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA JANUARY 12, 1998 Mr. Wildner advised that the Parks Division has lowered the rocks so that there is less of a chance of them being kicked out. He stated that the biggest problem is that Police Department personnel use this as a short cut and when they walk over it, they tend to kick the rocks out. D. Safety Newsletter Mr. Magazine is looking for someone to take over Jewel Farmer’s column in the safety newsletter. He was also looking for input and articles. E. Office Security at City Hall Ofc. Egnor advised that he will present a formal recommendation at the next meeting, which will include some lock changes and regular training with the staff. F. “Proud to be a Safe Worker” Awards No “Proud to be a Safe Worker” award was given to anyone recently. Mr. Bobich pointed out that there was previous discussion about commending workers who have had safe working records in the past. Mr. Magazine advised that this year we will have the National Safety Council Safe Driver Award and Safe Worker Award. In a couple of months he will ask each department to start compiling a list of their employees and how long they have been here so that we can start giving out pins based upon longevity of service and no injuries or auto accidents. G. Inspections Mr. Magazine reminded the members of the committee that each department should be doing monthly safety inspections and providing copies to the committee. He will publish a reminder in the newsletter. H. Safe Driver Program 1. Defensive Driver Course Mr. Magazine advised that he is in the process of scheduling Public Works, the Fire Department, and the Meter Reading Division for this course. He referred to the Citizens on Patrol and advised that 55 Alive will be accepted if that program had been completed within the last two years. He advised that the Fire Department has a special defensive 3 MINUTES SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA JANUARY 12, 1998 driving training course. He was not sure if we can accept that because it is a highly specific type of driving. He is waiting to hear from the National Safety Council on this matter. He stated that the goal is to put everybody who has, is, or could possibly drive a City vehicle through the Defensive Driver Training Course. There is a test at the end of this course to make sure the person has an understanding of what he has learned from the course. This course is installed on the computers in the ITS Training Room. Ten people at a time can take the course. It is an 8-hour course, but since it is on computer, you can do it at your own speed. It usually takes from 2 to 5 hours and is not difficult. This course has been around since 1964 and has been updated periodically. Over 30 million people have gone through the course. This is the standard by which all defensive driver courses are judged. Mr. Borden pointed out that Fire and Police personnel may have to respond to emergencies during the course. Mr. Magazine advised that the course could be put on pause and the employee could come back to it. Mr. Magazine advised that there is a high priority that Utilities and the Citizens on Patrol take this course first. Also, the Fire Department requested to be placed on the high priority list. Mr. Magazine would like to put 500 people through this program this year. Anyone who has taken this 8-hour National Safety Council course within the last two years will not have to take it again if they provide a copy of their certificate. However, the 4-hour National Safety Council course will not count. Mr. Magazine advised that some insurance companies give a discount of up to 10 percent if you take the 8-hours course. Chairman Rumpf asked if most accidents involve the larger trucks. Mr. Magazine advised that most accidents do not involve the larger trucks. Mr. Bob Lee asked if it is City policy that when there is an accident, the operator is tested for drugs or alcohol. Mr. Magazine advised that he has discussed this with Dale Sugerman, the Assistant City Manager. He would like to initiate a program where after any vehicle accident, the driver is immediately sent for testing, whether or not he is at fault. 4 MINUTES SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA JANUARY 12, 1998 2. “A Safety First City” Stickers Mr. Magazine advised that he is still working with the Warehouse on getting stickers made up to put on all the vehicles. Mr. McCaffrey stated that some people suggested that 375* or 375-SAFETY be the phone number that is put on the stickers. Mr. Magazine pointed out that this is going through the Citizens’ Action Center and it is good publicity to publicize that number. I. Lighting in City Hall Parking Lot At the last meeting, Vice Chairman Hall pointed out that the lighting in the City Hall Parking lot is dim because of the trees, and Mr. Wildner and Facilities were directed to look into this matter. Mr. Wildner stated that staff looked into some of the tree pruning practices and thinks we will be able to thin out some of the branches in the center a little more rather than simply lifting them, which has been the practice over the years. In a couple of weeks, some employees will be going to a tree-trimming seminar which will emphasize thinning versus lifting. He believes that after this training, staff will be able to modify the method of trimming trees so that more light will get through. Mr. Collins pointed out that after the trees are trimmed, they will just grow back in six months. Mr. Wildner advised that these tree-trimming techniques involve the removal of larger branches. If you lollypop a tree so that all the branches are cut at the same time, then a bust of growth comes right back again. However, when you remove larger branches in the thinning process, the opening up of the tree lasts longer. Mr. Collin advised that this same problem exists with the walkway lights at the Racquet Center. Chairman Rumpf inquired about mounting a lower lighting fixture. Mr. Collin pointed out that the fixture has to be up high enough to spread the light out. Chairman Rumpf suggested adding a light fixture onto the existing pole. Mr. Collin did not know if this could be done. He stated that we would have to cut into the existing pole. Also, he was not sure about the wind load factor. He did not know if the existing pole is designed to hold another light or whether we have the technology to do that. 5 MINUTES SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA JANUARY 12, 1998 Vice Chairman Hall suggested placing a wall pack on the east, west and north sides of the parking lot. No matter how thin the trees are trimmed, he did not think it would work because of the height of the luminers. Mr. Collin did not think wall packs would be aesthetically appropriate for City Hall. He pointed out that they are not decorative. He suggested adding lighting in the planters like the Delray Beach Police Department has. Vice Chairman Hall suggested asking Facilities to investigate the situation and submit some proposals by the next meeting. VI. NEW BUSINESS A. Head Protection Standard Change A copy of the Risk Management Department’s January 6, 1998 memorandum regarding the American National Standards Institute’s update of the American National Standard for Industrial Head Protection was attached to the agenda. Mr. Rumpf asked if these standards are referenced in our policy. Mr. Magazine advised that they are not. This is one of the reasons why he sent them to each department. He anticipates that OSHA will incorporate these standards into their own standards in the very near future. Chairman Rumpf asked if this means that every helmet is going to have to be replaced. Mr. Magazine did not think so. He stated that they changed some of the classifications. It will be up to each department based on their specific needs. Mr. Collin advised that his electrical hazard shoes started to wear out in 15 days. Mr. Magazine will speak to him about this after the meeting. VII. ANNOUNCEMENTS A. Safety Council of Palm Beach County, Inc. Materials regarding the Safety Council’s First Annual Safety Awards Program were attached to the agenda. Mr. Magazine advised that the City as a whole is not going to get involved in these activities. However, the individuals departments can if they want to. 6 MINUTES SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA JANUARY 12, 1998 VIII. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before this committee, Mr. Magazine moved to adjourn the meeting at 10:59 a.m. Vice Chairman Hall seconded the motion, which carried unanimously. IX. NEXT MEETING DATE: MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1998, 10:00 A.M. Eve Eubanks Review by: ___________________________ Recording Secretary Chairman (Two Tapes) 7