Minutes 09-08-97
MINUTES OF THE SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING HELD IN THE
POLICE/FIRE TRAINING ROOM, CITY HALL, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA,
ON MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1997, 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
Mark Lips Public Works
Wally Majors Recreation
Chuck Magazine Risk Management
Mark Bobich Utilities Administration
Tom Fitzgerald Utilities WWTP
ABSENT
A. D. Henehan, Jr. Library
David Egnor Police
Melvin Pinkney Utilities EWTP
I. CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Rumpf called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m.
II. ROLL CALL
The Recording Secretary called the roll. Mr. Borden was not yet present.
III. ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES OF AUGUST 11, 1997 REGULAR
MEETING
No additions, deletions, or corrections were made to the minutes of the last
meeting.
MINUTES
SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING
BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA September 8, 1997
Motion
Mr. McCaffrey moved to approve the minutes of the August 11, 1997 meeting as
submitted. Mr. Magazine seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.
IV. SAFETY COMMITTEE EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAM:
Video – “Safety and the Supervisor”
Mr. Magazine advised that he has not received any input from anybody regarding
bringing in speakers to these meetings. Therefore, Risk Management has
purchased 18 new safety-related videos. He distributed a list of the videos
available and advised that this list, as well as the safety newsletter, etc., can be
accessed on the City Hall network. The videos that have asterisks next to them
are new. This list will be updated as new videos are purchased. Also, Utilities is
going to provide Risk Management with a list of the videos they have so that they
can be added to this list. Mr. Magazine asked the departments to check this list
and to check with other departments to see what is available before spending
any money for training.
At this time, Mr. Borden arrived.
Mr. Magazine showed a 23 minute video titled “Safety and the Supervisor”. After
the video, Mr. Majors left the meeting.
Mr. Magazine advised everyone to call Risk Management if they want to check
out any of the videos. Also, if anyone wants to view any of the videos at the next
meeting, let him know.
Chairman Rumpf pointed out that the training opportunity is best taken
advantage of when employees are new. The experts have indicated that they
are most open and willing at that point. After that, they become more secure and
comfortable on the job. Mr. Magazine added that the people where they work
show them short cuts.
Chairman Rumpf felt every supervisor should view all the videos. He also felt
members of the Safety Committee should be familiar with what is in the video
library.
Vice Chairman Hall asked how the employees felt about approaching their
supervisors to address a situation they feel is unsafe. Mr. Borden advised that
the Fire Department has over 80 employees, and over a year’s time, only one or
two came forward with a safety concern. He felt the reason for this is that they
do not think anything would be done about it. Also, he did not think a lot of the
employees are safety conscious.
2
MINUTES
SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING
BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA September 8, 1997
Vice Chairman Hall felt employees should be encouraged to bring their safety
concerns to their supervisors. He pointed out that the employees are basically
the eyes and ears of the environment they work in.
Mr. Lips stated that the Public Works employees will mention the little things;
otherwise, they do not really care. They just want to do their job and leave. He
also felt it is a matter of whether or not their concerns will be taken care of. He
advised that during department safety meetings, the employees are encouraged
to bring safety issues forward.
Mr. Borden felt more employees would bring forward safety concerns if an
incentive or reward program existed.
Mr. Collin advised that the electrical room is being used for storage, and he
would not be able to get in there to shut something off in the event of an
emergency. One time he took a picture of it and caught a bunch of flack about it.
Mr. Borden pointed out that this is a fire code violation.
Chairman Rumpf pointed out that monthly safety inspections are supposed to be
done. Mr. Borden asked who is getting a copy of those inspections. He advised
that the Fire Department tries to inspect all the City buildings once a year, and if
there are violations, they are noted.
Mr. Collin inquired about the concession building at the Little League ball field.
Mr. Borden advised that the Fire Department reported those violations. Mr.
Wildner said most of the violations are corrected over time. It takes a while
sometimes because of conflicting jurisdictions between City employees and the
Little League people.
With regard to the storage area that Mr. Collin mentioned, Mr. Wildner advised
that we have started working on moving the vending machine to another room.
This will allow for another door to be put in that building and separate areas for
the electrical panel and for storage of the ball field equipment.
Mr. Magazine stated that these are things that the safety coordinators should be
advising their department heads of and documenting. He stated that this
Committee is supposed to set up programs and deal with issues to prevent
someone from getting hurt. He pointed out that it is cheaper to prevent
something than it is to deal with the aftereffects. Sometimes some people can be
short sighted and it is up to the safety coordinators to try to break through that
mindset. From his experience, he stated that the person who identifies safety
issues and tries to get them resolved is not always the best liked person and
makes enemies along the way.
3
MINUTES
SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING
BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA September 8, 1997
Vice Chairman Hall suggested that the Committee recommend to the City
Manager that all supervisors be required to view the video titled “Safety and the
Supervisor”. Rather than have this dictated by the City Manager, Mr. Magazine
suggested that each safety coordinator try to arrange for the supervisors to view
the video together. Mr. Collin felt this video should be shown during the
department safety meetings since it covers employees and counseling memos.
Mr. Magazine thought that was a good suggestion; however, he felt the first
group of people who should view it are the supervisors.
Chairman Rumpf thought the departments were required to perform inspections
monthly. He felt we should monitor this and remind the departments of this. He
stated that an individual may not know who is supposed to be doing it. It was
pointed out that a form is supposed to be filled out. Mr. Magazine will check into
this matter.
V. OLD BUSINESS
A. Fire Drills
Mr. Borden advised that the training session scheduled last Thursday was
cancelled due to a death in his wife’s family. He will send out a memo
rescheduling this training session. This will be an orientation session for the
safety coordinators and office monitors. There will be drills in the buildings or
complexes where employees are located and would have to vacate in case of a
fire. An alarm will be sounded and the office monitors would take care of their
responsibilities. In addition, any other employees who have assignments would
take care of their responsibilities and make sure everyone is out of the building
within a reasonable about of time. There are 700 students at Congress Middle
School, and they get out in two to three minutes.
Mr. Magazine distributed a flyer from the Safety Council regarding Fire Safety
th
Month in October. Mr. Borden advised that Fire Prevention Week is October 5
th
through 11. Mr. Magazine suggested gearing the whole month of October
toward Fire Safety. He also suggested that the Fire Department provide different
types of training in October. Mr. Borden was open to that; however, he pointed
out that the Fire Department will be pretty busy in October. The schools will be
coming to the stations for tours, and the Fire Department will be going to the
schools throughout the month. A lot will be happening a couple of hours in the
mornings and a couple of hours in the afternoons.
Mr. Magazine suggested that Mr. Borden make any literature available to the
different departments and print something on the paycheck stubs. He advised
anyone interested in organizing something to contact Mr. Borden.
4
MINUTES
SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING
BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA September 8, 1997
Once the members receive his memo rescheduling the training session, Mr.
Borden asked that they contact him to let him know if they plan to attend. Mr.
Magazine suggested he send a copy to the department heads also so that they
are aware of it.
B. Accident Review Board Referral
1. Parking Garage Basement Lighting
Mr. Magazine advised that he is still working on this item.
C. Parking Garage Flooring (i.e. very slippery when wet)
Mr. Magazine advised that he is still working on this item.
D. Safety Newsletter
Mr. Magazine advised that he is in the process of putting together the October
safety newsletter. If anyone has any information to include in it, contact him.
E. Driver Check Program
Chairman Rumpf inquired about the Driver Check Program. Mr. Magazine said
this is in the hands of the City Manager’s Office right now. Mr. Hawkins is
supposed to be following up on this matter.
VI. NEW BUSINESS
None.
VII. ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mr. Magazine distributed a flyer and advised that the Safety Council is one of the
sponsors selling entertainment coupon books. Mr. Borden advised that the Fire
Department is selling them also.
Mr. Bobich announced that the Safety Equipment Company is going to be
holding a respiratory protection seminar at the Boynton Beach Fire Academy on
th
September 17 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. It is free of charge to governmental
agencies.
Vice Chairman Hall requested that the next agenda contain an item regarding
stop signs. He said the stop signs should not be blocked by landscaping, etc.,
5
MINUTES
SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING
BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA September 8, 1997
inhibiting the driver’s view. Mr. Bobich believes a memo was put out a couple of
years ago about this. He will check into this.
Vice Chairman Hall asked if somebody should take one or two of the fire
extinguishers outside the building when the fire alarm sounds in case the
firefighters need them to get back into the building. Mr. Borden advised that fire
extinguishers are intended for small fires only, such as a fire in a trash basket.
The Fire Department always recommends exiting any building that has smoke in
it, whether you have an extinguisher or not.
VIII. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before this committee, Mr. Magazine
moved to adjourn the meeting at 11:05 a.m. Mr. Borden seconded the motion,
which carried unanimously.
IX. NEXT MEETING DATE: MONDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1997, 10:00 A.M.
Eve Eubanks Review by: ___________________________
Recording Secretary Chairman
(Two Tapes)
6