Williams College Employee Safety Committee Meeting

Tuesday, February 20, 2007 @ The Faculty House

Attending: George Aitken, Cheryl Brewer, Bob Briggs, Lisa Briggs, Gail Burda, Jean Caprari, Adriana Cozzolino, Scott Duncan, Gary Lohnes, Kris Maloney, Pat Mancuso, Pete Mazzacco, Joe Moran, Norm Parker, Jay Racela, Dennis Richard, Julie Seitel

Absent: Michael Chapman

Old Business:

• Vogt House elevator moving pads have been removed.
• Better lighting for middle level of parking garage: Joe reported that there were a few lights out that have been repaired. If an employee notices a light that is out the employee should notify Facilities.
• Falling pieces of concrete in parking garage: Joe reported that there is a PM to maintain caulking and check the garage on a regular schedule.
• Vogt to Mears sidewalk cracked and elevated: Joe reported to tell people to be careful in that area as nothing can be done until spring.
• Motion sensors on all stairways at Mears: Joe reported no action taken at this time.
• Process for following up on complaints on air quality: Joe reported that calls should be made to his office if there are air quality concerns.
• Joe reported that radiators in Mears have been replaced.
• Flammable properties of hand sanitizers at Morely: Joe reported it is a non-issue.

New Business:
Incident Reports submitted to the committee this month:

1. A heating plant fireman suffered a strained shoulder while pushing snow. No recommended corrective action (RCA).
2. A Facilities supervisor suffered an injured back after falling on new marble stairs at Clark Hall. RCA: Joe is investigating ways to make the steps less slippery when wet.
3. A custodian suffered an injured back: while going out to shovel, fell on same steps as above.
4. An electrician suffered an injured back after falling down stairs at Mount Hope. No RCA.
5. An athletics employee suffered pinched neck nerves possibly due to repetitive motion at computer. RCA: modify workstation. Joe reported that it has been done.
6. A Dining Services employee suffered a sprained and bruised ankle after falling on ice cubes near the Greylock dumpster. RCA: Be more careful.
7. A Facilities fireman suffered a sliver under thumbnail while putting recycling paper in wooden storage box. RCA: replace box.
8. A Dining Services employee suffered a cut on left hand when the knife slipped while cutting an apple. RCA: Dry off the apple before cutting, change to dry protective glove.
9. A Dining Services employee bruised left knee while walking from second level in parking garage. Weather-related. RCA: be more careful.
10. An athletics employee injured neck and shoulder while carrying a fifty-pound bag of snow melt. RCA: get help carrying heavy bags.
11. A Facilities custodian suffered a strained wrist after continuously chopping ice. RCA: take breaks.

Additional New Business:

• Norm reported that after lights had been changed in Sawyer, fine particles were collecting in all offices and there was concern about health issues. Joe reported the powder was from foam insulation placed between the lights and the concrete ceiling and should not be a problem.
• Norm also reported that the sidewalk right in front of Sawyer hadn’t been shoveled. Joe will check. The sidewalk was cleared after the meeting. The problem was not being able to plow with cars parked along the drive
• Bob noted a concern that at the crosswalk from Paresky to Sawyer pedestrians were difficult to see. Joe reports that he is hoping the town will relocate the crosswalk.
• Pat raised issue of lifting regulations and expectations. Joe responded that job descriptions usually spell out expectations. Julie asked if hand trucks were readily available. Joe replied that they were at heavy use areas and he is waiting for more information on other specific areas.
• Pat raised the issue of first aid kits. Joe responded that the College does not supply them because then there could be a legal assumption of employees being trained to use them. Individual departments may purchase minimal first aid supplies, but any injury requiring more than a band-aid should be referred to professional medical attention.
• Pat also reported that she had received some complaints about inadequate shoveling of sidewalks. Joe and the Committee as a whole agreed that snow removal under very difficult conditions had been excellent and that what was at point here was misplaced expectations, not the quality of snow-removal.
• Kris reported that the back door of Griffen was blocked by snow. Dennis noted that areas that close to buildings were the responsibility of custodians. Joe reports the snow was shoveled right after our meeting.
• Cheryl asked if Computer Center were to buy ergonomic chairs with its own funds, should Joe nonetheless be consulted. Joe responded that he should be, that not all chairs were as advertised and he has useful experience in choosing chairs.
• Cheryl also asked about having a computer recycling day like last year. Joe replied that currently the College is still not paying for recycling and that if possible, we should have one.
• The Committee welcomed Jean Caprari who is replacing Norm Parker on the Committee.
• Until a new Chair can be named and until member successions can be determined, Joe will be acting Chair of the Committee.

Dining Services Safety Committee:

• No new business.

Next meetings:
Sunporch on Tuesday, March 13
New Private on Tuesday, April 17
New Private on Tuesday, May 15

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