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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 1998-01-01 9d DISPOSI11ON Town of Ithaca l Safety Committee Meeting, April 2, 1998 Present: Fred Noteboom,Co-Chair;Judy Drake,Co-Chair;Christine B; Edward Merrick, Richard TenKate, David Klein Meeting began at 8:10 a.m. Fred Noteboom indicated this was an organizational meeting to discuss the Safety Committee's Written Plan. The Attitude section of the document was written so that it was not as negative. It was also decided to put it at the end of the document. The Safety Committee section was put first and some minor changes were made. David Klein asked if the Committee's Duties section should be prioritized and other minor changes were made. This section led to discussion regarding"tracking" information better regarding the Town's vehicles. The Committee feels that a separate form for tracking equipment problems would be needed. Fred explained that PESH and OHSA are leaning towards disciplinary actions where accidents are involved. Rich TenKate feels that the Highway/Parks Department needs to discuss safety issues on a regular basis. David felt that an orientation system is needed for new employees. Ed Merrick indicated that videos are not always the best way to train employees. Fred indicated that the Highway/Parks Department has a"Safety Management Checklist" book to help with safety issues. There was a discussion regarding inspection of Town facilities. The idea of having Town Hall Committee members inspection the Highway/Parks facility and vise versa. Judy Drake indicated that ergonomic has become a big issue. She feels that not only in offices, but in vehicles and equipment too. There was a discussion regarding what will be required of the Committee at each meeting or yearly, etc. The Committee decided to develop a form for employees to report safety problems and comments. David asked how the problems would be addressed. He feels that the e Safety Committee Meeting, April 2,1998 Page 2 actions (for safety problems and comments) should be spelled out in the written plan. Christine Balestra asked who, at Town Hall,was in charge of dealing with these problems. The discussion regarding this indicated that the Department Heads would not necessarily have to be involved. (The Department Heads involvement would come into play on the evaluation of employees.) Fred, as Safety Officer, feels that Judy should do this. Rich feels that someone should be appointed and that it should be clearly delineated who that person is. At present when Judy is aware of a problem, she asks Stanley to fix the problem if it is not too complex. Otherwise, she asks Dan to assist her. Christine feels that safety is a priority over "everything" else. Christine asked about training on fire extinguishers and fire drills. Fred indicated that we are working on a plan for fire drills. This discussion lead to the realization that one person should be in charge of a "sign out" board at Town Hall. At present, the secretaries upstairs take care of their respective department; likewise down stairs. Christine asked how this would change at the new Town Hall. Ed felt that a good system would be to sign out with one person, and David felt the person answering the phones should know where people are. There was a brief discussion regarding ID badges for staff. The section Towri s Responsibilities needs a "clearer" path. David agreed stating that the Town Board needs to be involved too. Fred said that we would make the changes to the Plan and distribute them within the next two weeks. He indicated that the Committee should start working on some of the issues brought up today. Judy felt that Rich and Ed should work on procedures for reporting unsafe acts (regarding vehicles, etc.) and Judy, Christine and Mark will work on them at Town Hall. Fred felt that Judy should be made Co-Safety Officer (for Town Hall). Fred said that he has talked to Ned Swab,State Labor Department, and Ned is willing to help us develop a better Safety Committee. David asked about Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) and what the Town supplied to its employees. He was concerned about proper attire. Fred indicated that there is a written policy, but this policy needs to be reviewed. Currently Highway/Parks workers are required to wear work boots, vests,hard hats, etc. Employees are discouraged from wearing shorts, sneakers, and going shirtless. A schedule of the first Thursday of every other month the Committee will meet. The next meeting will be June 4, 1998. A schedule will be distributed before long. Safety Committee Meeting,April 2,1998 Page 3 Agenda items for next meeting: review accident forms and look at"checklists" and review. The meeting was adjourned at 9:10 a.m. ghk DISPOSITION DATE • 114/41 Town of Ithaca Safety Committee Meeting,June 11, 1998 Present: Fred Noteboom, Co-Chair;Judy Drake,Co-Chair; Christine Baletra; Edward Merrick, Richard TenKate, and Mark Cass Guests: Jim Carey, Lovell Safety Meeting began at 8:10 a.m. Judy Drake handed out copies of incident/accident reports to all members for discussion. Judy reminded the Committee that these are confidential reports and she will collect them at the end of the meeting and destroy them. There were two reports to discuss. Both incidents were at the Highway facility. Fred Noteboom informed the Committee that the lighting near the fuel tanks has been improved, hopefully no other incidents will occur because of poor lighting in that area. Fred informed the Committee that the Highway/Parks Department will have a training session on hand safety. There was a discussion regarding the "Potential Hazardous" forms. Chris Baletra asked if the forms have been put in place. Judy said yes; she has them near her office. There was a discussion regarding keeping the form anonymous. Ed Merrick felt that if people did not want their names on it, they should not have to have it on there. Jim Carey from Lovell Safety said that the forms are a good start on"behavioral safety". He also said that"silence gives consent",meaning that if someone sees a safety problem but does not say anything, others will feel it is OK to leave things the way they are. The problem will not be solved, until someone is hurt. Chris asked about electrical safety hazards. This is a problem at Town Hall, but how would it be addressed since the Town is going to relocate. Jim explained that sometime the decision on how to fix a problem has to be weighed. Some things are not able to be fixed quickly. Fred talked to the Committee about concerns the Highway crews are expressing. We are working on a underground drainage project. There are many buried utilities in the area. When any of the companies come to work on their utilities, they take safety precautions (such as rubber suits and gloves), then tell the Highway crews to move it. We feel there is a potential safety hazard there and we will be looking for solutions to this problem. Safety Committee Meeting,June 11,1998 Page 2 Jim Carey then presented "Office Ergonomics" to the Committee. There was a video and several hand outs on conducting surveys and evaluations on employees comfort. Jim informed the Committee that"work areas should fit the person, not the person fitting the work area." Jim also said that most ergonomic problems can be solved for less the $500. He also said that people who answer the phones a lot should consider having head sets. • Jim said that office workers should spend no more than two hours at a computer at a time. People should also take "little" breaks from the computers. Exercising the eyes and flexing the fingers are two helpful ways to relieve stress. Jim stressed teaching people the "neutral" position so employees will get a custom to it. They can change the position, but they will go back to the neutral position. Jim also feels that the Town should work on the evaluations now so that any changes needed can be addressed for the new Town Hall. This will take a team to accomplish this. The team can comprise of the individual employee, safety committee and Jim. Judy asked what the next step was. A tentative meeting on July 15, 1998, at 8:00 a.m. at the Highway Facility has been set up to start work on the industrial ergonomics evaluations. Ed asked if there was any type of program, similar to the above,for highway workers. Jim explained that there was and he is willing to work with us on it. Jim did say that the Highway worker project is more complex. Jim said that one of the best ways to study construction workers is to video tape them at work, then go from there. The meeting was adjourned at 10:00 a.m. ghk • DISPOSITION DATE P "Z Town of Ithaca Safety Committee Meeting, December 3, 1998 Present: Fred Noteboom,Co-Chair;Judy Drake, Co-Chair; Ray Manning, Richard TenKate Guests: Lisa Titti, Records/Network Specialist Meeting began at 8:10 a.m. Lisa Titti, Records/Network Specialist was introduced to the Committee. Lisa has served on Safety Committee's in previous jobs. Ray Manning was introduced as the new member of the Committee. There was a general discussion regarding the Committee's functions. Judy Drake informed the Committee that Cathy Valentino, Town Supervisor, received a call from the City of Ithaca Fire Department regarding Fire Safety Programs. Judy will call them back to discuss this further. Lisa informed the Committee that at her previous job they had practice evacuations drills. Judy indicated that the Town's facilities need signs placed throughout them indicated instructions for exiting the buildings in emergencies. There was a discussion regarding the fire alarms at Town Hall and that they were tested but employees were not required to leave the building. Rich TenKate indicated that all employees should meet at a designated area outside of the building in case of emergencies. Judy said that there is no plan for this. This need to be worked on. Lisa indicated that the Committee needs to set goals and a mission statement. The rest of the meeting was spent discussing this. There was a discussion regarding using a video tape for ergonomics training proposes. Judy handed out a pamphlet regarding Safety Committees which was reviewed and looks like it will be very helpful with ideas on Safety Committees. Judy indicated that a basis for a mission statement could be: Safety is for the employees--It effects them more than the employer. Fred expressed his concern about management being chair persons of the Committee. His feelings are that possibly employees will be less likely to speak up. Judy feel that the employees should be guiding the Committee. Rich TenKate did not feel management hampered the Committee's goals. It was decided that the Committee needed to list items to get the Committee going and they task these items to different people. Judy suggested setting one goal each year and work on it to achieve that goal. Some suggested goals for the Committee are: List of Issues,Safety and Fire Manual, Driver Safety, Check Lists for Safety, Guide in Trainings needed (schedule), Monthly safety meetings, OHSA requirements, Inspections (how often--break out areas). There was a discussion regarding safety issues in the buildings and how to address them. There have been problems in the past with communications. Rich TenKate felt that the Committee should ask the Zoning Officer for guidelines on fire and safety inspections for buildings. Attached is an outline for the Fire and Safety Manual. There was a discussion regarding meeting dates. Meeting will be held monthly, while getting the Committee's goals and mission statement together, on the first Thurday of the month at 8:00 a.m. at the Highway Facility. ghk • TOWN OF ITHACA Fire and Safety Manual Outline 0 • .40 1. Building Evacuation Plan a. Fire Extinguishers b. Fire Drills c. Meeting Places d. Attendance/Sweeper (1st and 2nd responders) e. Map f. What to take out of the building 2. Driver Safety • a. Training b. Reporting Accidents c. Hazardous Materials Response Plan (See Ithaca Fire Department's Hazardous Materials Response Plan--approved by Town Board, and Hazardous Materials Response Plan Awareness Level--approved by Town Board on 6/8/98. 3. Ergonomics a. Computers b. Lifting c. Equipment d. Training 4. Personal Protective Equipment a. Identify b. Training 5. Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)/Right-to-Know a. Identify b. Training c. Updating 6. Reporting Policies a. Driving • b. Injury c. Damages DISPOSITION DATE I, nAtee•41,• ye Town of Ithaca Public Works Committee Meeting December 15, 1998, 8:00 a.m. Town of Ithaca Highway Facility 1. Approval of Minutes 2. Discussion on Agreements with Tompkins County Bridges Other 3. Discussion on E. King Road by Big Al's. 4. Discussion on Speed Limits Town-wide. 5. Discussion on Holiday Tree Pickups. 6. Discussion on meeting dates for 1999. 7. Discussion on Coddington Road Community Center Parking Lot. ghk pc: Mary Bryant, Administrative Assistant Joan Lent Noteboom,Town Clerk ric rew Frost,li reciof of Zoning/Building Jonathan Kanter, Director of Planning