Loading...
Minutes 12-08-08 MINUTES OF THE SAFETY COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING HELD ON MONDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2008, AT 10:00 A.M. IN THE FIRE/POLICE TRAINING ROOM, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA PRESENT: Mark Bobich, Chair Safety Administrator Ray Altman, Vice Chair Fire Rescue Catherine Cherry-Guberman, Secretary City Clerk Tom Balfe Recreation and Parks Dorothy Mack Human Resources Chuck Magazine Risk Management Chip Mierke Public Works Mike Naughton Library Bevis Pigott Utilities Mike Rumpf Development Barbara Scott Police Samantha Sidlower ITS/GIS ABSENT: Eric Falstad/Jeremy Davis Golf Course Pam Welsh/Carisse LeJeune City Manager Rodney Vicki/Julie Alibrandi Finance/Warehouse I. Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 10:01 a.m. II. Roll Call The Recording Secretary called the roll and determined a quorum was present. III. Acceptance of Minutes of 11/10/08 regular meeting Mr. Magazine did not believe there was a quorum at the last meeting and thought Ms. Rivers and Mr. Vicki were present at the November meeting. Motion Mr. Magazine moved to approve the minutes pending verification of the attendance. Ms. Scott seconded the motion that unanimously passed. 1 Meeting Minutes Safety Committee Boynton Beach, Florida December 8, 2008 IV. Safety Committee Education and Training Program – Safety Video A training video entitled Municipal Accident Investigation was viewed. If an accident occurs on the job, it is vital to conduct a thorough and correct accident investigation. A safer workplace can be created by determining the cause of accidents. When an accident occurs, check the worker for injuries and get medical help when needed. Make sure the accident site is not disturbed, and gather the tools to conduct the investigation. These would be items like paper for note taking, a tape measure and camera. Refresh yourself with the key aspects of an investigation of what, where and when. The investigation should detail what occurred and should take place as soon as possible, when witnesses are available and conditions have not changed. The investigation should take place at the scene of the accident. It is important to view the big picture. The scene should be kept undisturbed. Items such as lighting and door positions should be reviewed. Diagrams and photos are a good way to remember important details one would not likely remember after the scene was cleaned up. Measuring is also helpful. Individuals working in the area before the accident occurred should be interviewed quickly and one-on-one so as not to influence one another. The purpose of an investigation is not to place blame, only to find out what happened. Caution should be used with witnesses whose statements are influenced by their own feelings about someone’s work habits. It is easy to overlook an obvious clue. Sometimes there is a breakdown in the system which is a contributing factor. A review of procedures is appropriate. Other factors such as weather conditions should be reviewed. Good housekeeping is important. Reviewing reports such as maintenance and past accident reports are also helpful. (Mr. Balfe left the meeting at 10:19 a.m.) Make a list of recommendations, choosing the right equipment, setup and use. Institute regular workplace inspections. (Mr. Balfe returned to the meeting at 10:20 a.m.) Housekeeping and rearranging maintenance areas making access to equipment easier should be reviewed as well as monitoring procedures and reports to Senior Management. 2 Meeting Minutes Safety Committee Boynton Beach, Florida December 8, 2008 Conducting correct investigations should be a part of the overall safety program and helps to keep coworkers and the workplace a safer place. Chair Bobich explained the video covered a lot of information and would be a good video for supervisors to use. V. Old Business A. Fire Drills Vice Chair Altman reported there were no fire drills conducted since the last meeting. Chair Bobich reported he and Jim MacIntyre would be conducting fire training at City Hall. Previously, there were a lot of false alarms, but the system has been upgraded enough so they will not have that issue. He explained now was the time to conduct training and have actual fire drills. Vice Chair Altman explained when conducting drills that require fire dispatch personnel to leave the building, they would need to transfer the 911 system when they leave the premises. Mr. Magazine explained a meeting was forthcoming with them about what the procedures were. They needed to conduct a drill where they actually vacate the premises. B. Proud to be a Safe Worker Awards Chair Bobich announced there were two awards. One award was submitted by Ms. Rivers of Recreation and Parks recognizing Tom Balfe. Mr. Balfe was following a truck and trailer when the trailer, carrying 5,000 pounds of seafood, came loose from the truck. Mr. Balfe used his vehicle hazard and emergency lights to alert oncoming traffic, who would not have been able to see the trailer, to exercise caution. The members congratulated Mr. Balfe. Mr. Pigott also recognized Barry Hall, Thorley Johnson, Mike Osborn and Mike Taylor. Cleaning lift stations involves the physical holding of vactor tubes while connecting them over an open lift pit. There is a risk of the employee falling into the pit. A “Tube Support Table” was developed by them to hold connected sections of tubing, thereby enabling additional sections to be connected without having to physically hold several lengths of tubing over an open lift station pit. The device was suggested by Thorley Johnson, designed by Mike Osborn and Mike Taylor, and fabricated by Barry Hall. Chair Bobich explained the new lift station have a fall prevention net. The older stations will have a retro-fit kit, so the workers do not have a chance to fall into the pit. Some of the pits are six-feet deep, while others are 30 feet. 3 Meeting Minutes Safety Committee Boynton Beach, Florida December 8, 2008 C. Departmental Inspections & Safety Meetings Chair Bobich reminded the members the reports are on the Shared Drive. Members should review them to ensure they receive proper credit for inspections. The inspections are important. D. Defensive Driver Course Mr. Magazine explained the classes are scheduled and are mandatory for employees driving City vehicles or personal vehicles for City business. He advised they were receiving a lot of positive comments and he urged the members to ensure department employees are aware of the course requirement. The Sanitation Department has special times scheduled for early in the day to take the course. Risk Management can work around other department schedules if needed. E. Incident Review Board Referrals None. F. Other Chair Bobich advised he would complain again about the meeting room always being very cold. He had complained about it after the last meeting and the air conditioning technician checked into the matter; however, there was no change. VI. New Business A. Departmental Safety Issues None. B. Other Mr. Magazine explained a change to the Safe Driver program was recommended to the City Manager. This would require employees to take the Safe Driver course every two years instead of every three. The policy languished at the City Manager’s Leadership Team meetings. Mr. Magazine announced the City Commission passed, on first reading, the “Dangerous Intersection Safety Act”, and it would be heard again at the next City Commission meeting. This would bring the City in-line with other cities that use cameras at traffic lights to take photos of the tags of red light runners. It would create an Ordinance allowing the City to fine the vehicle owner. A firm would install the cameras, handle the 4 Meeting Minutes Safety Committee Boynton Beach, Florida December 8, 2008 correspondence and then receive a percentage of the fines. The balance of the fines would come to the City. The issue of City vehicles running red lights and the City having to pay the fine was raised at the City Commission meeting. To address that concern, Mr. Magazine incorporated into the policy that the City would charge the employee identified as the driver of the vehicle, and through payroll deduction, receive reimbursement of the City’s costs. The program was not; however, a State program for moving violations and therefore, no points would be involved. Risk Management added another section to the Ordinance regarding vehicle accidents and reviews, and when drivers would have their driving privileges suspended. This section was added at the same time the Defensive Driver change, which required employees to take the course every two years instead of three, was made. It was noted Assistant City Manager LaVerriere was looking for input from the Safety Committee. There were questions whether the camera system was an automated system with letters automatically generated, or whether the photos were manually reviewed. Mr. Magazine responded the system was automated. Vice Chair Altman noted the concept could be an issue for emergency medical personnel. Questions were raised about City vehicles being tailgated when approaching a yellow light. If the employee stopped, they would get hit. One employee was put in that position a year ago with a police vehicle. The choices were to stop and get rear-ended, or proceed and be ticketed. Mr. Magazine explained there was an appeal process and he reiterated it was not a State program, it was an Ordinance. Mr. Magazine requested a vote of approval for Section J. Vice Chair Altman so moved. Conversation followed investigating the payroll deduction issue being done first. Mr. Magazine inquired if he could report to the City Manager’s office the Safety Committee was in favor of the concept and they endorsed the employees reimbursing the City. There was no objection to the concept; however, concerns were raised about forcing deductions from an employee’s compensation, having multiple drivers using the same vehicle and the proper logging of City vehicles and drivers. Mr. Magazine explained the means of payment would be reviewed by the City Attorney and Finance Department. He requested endorsement of the concept the employee would reimburse the City whether it was through payroll deduction or volunteer payment. The choices were to pay the fines out of City funds or exempt City vehicles. 5 Meeting Minutes Safety Committee Boynton Beach, Florida December 8, 2008 It was noted, except for the percent cut the City would receive, the City was paying itself. The red light infraction was the only violation the camera would record. The amount of the fine would be set by the City Commission and it was noted for some employees, in light of the current economic environment, high fines could mean the difference between paying rent or mortgages. Mr. Magazine responded the payment would be a lump sum immediate payment, should the violation not be appealed and the fine would teach the employee a lesson. Discussion also followed that the penalty for late payments was usually double the fine amount. The time frame to pay the fine was 30 days. The members noted a first offense was different than a third offense and rules could be defined or the system calibrated. Mr. Magazine responded the company was not interested in the number of offenses a driver had and the City was advising individuals in advance that if they run a red light they would pay the fine. Proving who was driving the vehicles was discussed. EMS noted a driver may be assigned a vehicle, but may not always drive it. Mr. Balfe agreed and noted pre-trip inspections were conducted in the mornings. Whoever conducted the inspection signed the log book, but often another driver would use the vehicle. Mr. Balfe explained if a call was made later in the day about who was driving the vehicle, the information could be supplied; but not 30 days later. Mr. Magazine explained it was his understanding there was supposed to be a log book. He suggested a better way to account for who was driving vehicles should be put in place and if a department cannot identify who was driving, then the department should pay the fine. Vice Chair Altman reiterated his concern about EMS vehicles. He explained there were frequent situations when emergency vehicles entered an intersection in the middle of patient care, when the driver has to make a choice between lights and sirens, and hitting the brakes. It was noted Police vehicles were not always using lights and sirens. Mr. Magazine had followed up on police vehicles, but pointed out now there would be pictures involved. He acknowledged, legitimately, in the case of an ambulance, they may not know who is driving a vehicle, but if an ambulance was running a red light, it was putting people at risk. Mr. Magazine explained emergency vehicles should look more towards using their lights and sirens when transporting patients. Vice Chair Altman explained it may not always be justified. By unnecessarily using lights and sirens, accidents are often created when motorists try to yield to the emergency vehicles. The members discussed emergency vehicles should be exempt. Fundamentally there was no opposition to the concept, but it was thought there would be problems with forced deductions. It was, again, noted there may be legal concerns with taking away 6 Meeting Minutes Safety Committee Boynton Beach, Florida December 8,2008 income and should be clarified before moving forward. It was also noted there should be some flexibility in payment for employees with good driving records. Mr. Magazine disagreed and explained an employee violated the law and got caught. Other municipalities were reviewing the concept, while others instituted it already. There was a similar system used at the toll plazas. If passed, employees would be required to sign an acknowledgment of the new policy for placement in their Human Resources file. Having the Union endorse the policy upfront was suggested. Mr. Magazine explained if the concept were incorporated into the Ordinance, the matter would not need to be negotiated with the Union. Mr. Magazine advised he would bring the Committee's concerns to the City Manager's office and the item would be kept on the agenda. Mr. Magazine would report back on the item at the next meeting. VII. Announcements None. VIII. Next Meeting Date: Monday, December 8,2008,10:00 a.m. Chair Bobich noted there was an error on the agenda. The next meeting would be January 12, 2009. He wished the members a happy holiday. IX. Adjournment There was no further business to discuss. The meeting properly adjourned at 11 :03 a.m. I} r L(l-LUJLlJ}LL (J)yj\.Al.t Catherine Cherry 0 Recording Secretary 121508 7