Williams College Employee Safety Committee Meeting
Tuesday, December 12, 2007 @ The Faculty House
Attending: George Aitken, Bob Briggs, Lisa Briggs, Gail Burda, Michael Chapman, Scott Duncan, Gary Lohnes, Pat Mancuso, Joe Moran, Norm Parker, Jay Racela, Julie Seitel
Absent: Cheryl Brewer, Adriana Cozzolino, Kris Maloney, Pete Mazzacco, Dennis Richard
Old Business:
- CPR class: two classes were offered in November, one class no one showed, the second class only two or three people showed. There was some discussion regarding possible saturation, possibly collecting the fees ahead of time and so on. It was finally decided that after the first of the year, CPR classes would be offered on a specific day every other month.
New Business:
Incident Reports submitted to the committee this month:
- A records specialist sprained left foot walking toward Morgan after tripping on a branch. Recommended corrective action (RCA): use more caution to avoid obstacles.
- A Dining Services chef cut left index finger while using a knife that belonged to another employee. The knife was dull and slipped. RCA: Employee cautioned to use facility knives and make sure they are sharp.
- A cook’s assistant cut left hand while cutting apples with a chef’s knife which slipped. RCA: slow down and practice safe knife skills.
- A custodian injured right eye: while lifting a vacuum cleaner over a railing, one of the tools fell. RCA: it is understood that there are not outlets on each level, so more care must be used managing the vacuum and its cord.
- A manager scraped knee, elbow and injured right ankle after slipping on a leaf. RCA: pay more attention while walking.
- A cook suffered a strained right knee after falling off a stool being used to reach a clock to reset it. RCA: get a spotter.
- A library employee injured finger on a staple while opening a reused package. RCA: be more cautious.
- A student employee hit ankle against swinging door at circulation desk at Schow. RCA: pay more attention using swinging doors.
- A supervisor cut finger while dicing tomatoes. The knife was dull. RCA: use sharp knives, knives need touch-up between professional sharpenings.
- A dishwasher suffered bruises on lower back from slipping on wet floor. RCA: new rubber mats for dishroom. Joe: mats have been replaced, repair due on dishwashing machine.
- A custodian suffered a cut forehead after hitting head on a hanging decoration. RCA: Use more caution. (Shorter custodians, perhaps?)
- A Dining Services employee suffered pain in wrist while pulling pans out of oven. Iced it, will see a doctor. No RCA.
- A custodian suffered a small bump on head and hand when, after opening a door, a ladder fell on the employee. RCA: store ladder in proper location.
- A Facilities employee, while moving a stored spring-loaded drafting table with no top, was struck on the forehead and suffered a twisted right thumb. Joe: plans to put in place guidelines to send employees to storage barns in pairs.
Additional New Business:
- Vogt House elevator moving pads restricting hand rails. Joe will investigate.
- Issue raised about better lighting for middle level of parking garage. Joe said it seems fine but will investigate.
- Issue raised of falling pieces of concrete in parking garage. Joe said the building needs caulking but maintenance of the building is behind schedule.
- Vogt to Mears sidewalk is cracked, elevated. Joe will check.
- A request was made for motion sensors on all stairways at Mears. Joe will check.
- Issue was raised on process for following up on complaints on air quality. Joe responded that a call to Facilities would be the correct procedure.
- at noted that the radiators in Mears are being replaced due to burn hazard and control issues.
- Jay reported an employee query regarding the flammable properties of hand sanitizers at Morely. Joe replied that it is not a code problem, though they may get relocated anyway.
Dining Services Safety Committee:
Next meeting: Tuesday January 16, noon @ The Faculty House
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