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Minutes 06-09-09 MINUTES OF THE SAFETY COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING HELD ON MONDAY, JUNE 9, 2009, AT 10:00 A.M., IN THE FIRE/POLICE TRAINING ROOM, BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA PRESENT: Mark Bobich, Chair Catherine Cherry, Secretary Chuck Magazine Karen Abramson Julie Alibrandi Tom Balfe, (arrived 10:13 a.m.) Steve Lewis Samantha Powers Maibet Rosado, (arrived at 10:21 a.m.) Barbara Scott Safety Administrator City Clerk Risk Management Library FinancelWarehouse Recreation and Parks Fire Rescue ITS/GIS Human Resources Police/Code Compliance ABSENT: Pam Welsh/Carisse LeJeune Michael Rumpf/Chris Mitchell Jeremy Davis/Eric Falstad Lanson (Chip) Mierke Bevis Pigott City Manager Development Golf Course Public Works Utilities I. Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 9:44 a.m. II. Roll Call The Recording Secretary called the roll. A quorum was present. III. Acceptance of Minutes of May 11, 2009 regular meeting Motion Ms. Scott moved to approve the minutes as written. Ms. Alibrandi seconded the motion that unanimously passed. IV. Safety Committee Education and Training Program Mr. Magazine appreciated Mr. Landress running the meeting last month, and for his demonstration and information on the Automatic Electronic Defibrillators (AEDs). 1 Meeting Minutes Safety Committee Boynton Beach, Florida June 8, 2009 Mr. Magazine distributed an Administrative Policy Manual revision to the Safe Driver program. The Defensive Driving Course is now every two years. A new Defensive Driver program, which was developed in-house, will be used beginning in July. The program covers many different aspects of driving, uses videos, humor, and was automated. Based on the Safety Committee’s recommendations, the City Manager signed off on it The City also had issues in the past with different departments handling motor vehicle accidents differently when the City employee driver was at fault. To bring uniformity, they incorporated a policy. “Employees involved in motor vehicle accidents shall have their driving privileges suspended under certain circumstances, until the next meeting of the Incident Review Board and a determination of preventability is established and following final disposition by the Department. The circumstances in which City driving privileges would be suspended were: Death of any party; or ? Serious injury requiring immediate transport of any part to a hospital or trauma ? center; or Where employee driver is listed on Police Report, Contributing Causes as ? between #02 and #24 or #77 with explanation showing employee driver was a Contributing Cause; or When no police were called to the scene of a multiple vehicle accident; or ? When employee driver is involved in multiple, more than one, single party motor ? vehicle accidents in a ninety(90) day period; or The City Manager reserves the right to suspend the driving privileges of an ? employee when it is deemed in the public interest for safety.” The Department Head is responsible for arranging the work assignments of the impacted employee driver while he/she await a determination by the Incident Review Board and final disposition by the Department. The policy was implemented in March and all motor vehicle accidents were being monitored with no exceptions. The policy affects every employee who drives a City vehicle, and the Safety Coordinators were urged to alert their departments of the provision. The City has far too many accidents occurring which costs the City money for property damage, and other items. The Police reports would identify who was at fault. Mr. Bobich pointed out there was information in the policy that specifically makes it clear which violations would result in suspended driving privileges. He also emphasized some of the positions require the employee to have a valid driver’s license. To put it nicely, the suspension would provide the employee the opportunity to explore other job prospects. 2 Meeting Minutes Safety Committee Boynton Beach, Florida June 8, 2009 V. Old Business A. Fire Drills A report on fire drills would be given next month. B. Proud to be a Safe Worker Mr. Magazine reminded the members if a co-worker does something extraordinary as far as safety, he/she should be given an award. The Committee is not watching for employees to do something wrong; they want to reward them for doing something right. C. Department Inspections & Safety Meetings Mr. Bobich has received updates and was visiting departments that were lacking in holding safety meetings and inspections. D. Defensive Driver Course This was addressed earlier in the meeting. It was hoped the course would be more interesting and shorter. Chair Bobich was instrumental in creating the course. The feedback on the course was very good. E. Incident Review Board Referrals None. VI. New Business A. Departmental Safety Issues None. B. Flame Resistant Uniforms for qualified electrical workers Chair Bobich explained employees must be qualified and properly trained to work with electricity. More intense electrical hazards require greater training and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), which is a flame resistant uniform. Some departments have a very basic use of electrical equipment. In those instances, minimal training would be required. Other employees; however, who deal with large pieces of equipment would require more training and would need the flame resistant uniforms. 3 Meeting Minutes Safety Committee Boynton Beach, Florida June 8, 2009 Risk Management staff was researching the matter and found uniforms that were blue or tan. The uniforms are required by OSHA and the National Electrical Code, and it was anticipated they might not be very comfortable. There was a rating scale on the degree of hazards, and some clothing may resemble a moon suit. The employees would not have to wear it all the time nor would they buy one for each employee. It was more like chainsaw chaps, which would be properly treated and disinfected, and a service would provide cleaning of the clothing. It was anticipated about 10 employees may have to wear the uniform. Unless they can find alternative flame-retardant clothing, their uniforms would not be green like the rest of the City. At the next meeting, a change to the PPE administrative policy would be made. To date, there have been no electrical burn injuries sustained in the City. The Legislature did not pass the bill that would require the State to come under OSHA requirements because there were objections the new regulations were an unfunded mandate that was costly. Mr. Magazine explained private industry falls under OSHA, as did public agencies in more than half of the country. Florida used to have the Division of Safety, which adopted OSHA guidelines and then the division was abolished. Technically, the City was not required to follow the guidelines; however, if there was a lawsuit, OSHA was the minimum requirement. He anticipated the State would fall under the regulations within the next few years. In the meanwhile, the City was working on projects through Risk Management and safety to incorporate training with Utilities as a pilot program, which they hoped to expand to other departments. The City was trying to stay ahead of the regulations. The coordinator positions would become more involved with training, and there would be much more work coming down the road as everyone would be impacted by the changes. Mr. Magazine hoped there would be a proposal next year that would make the mandates voluntary or funded. Currently, training was available at a cost. The program for Utilities training would be administered through Pure Safety. C. Other None. VII. Announcements Mr. Magazine thanked the members for their prayers and kind words during his recent illness Ms. Abramson complimented Mr. Magazine for speaking at the American Heart Association Heart-Walk Luncheon in support of the Association. 4 Meeting Minutes Safety Committee Boynton Beach, Florida June 8, 2009 VIII. Next Meeting Date: Monday, July 13, 2009,10:00 a.m. VIII. Adjournment There being no further business to discuss, the meeting properly adjourned at 10:36 a.m. d~)l1 GJ.m~ Catherine Cherry 0 Recording Secretary 5