Employee Safety Committee Meeting

Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2004 @ Faculty House

Attending: George Aitken, Janet Bartlett, Bob Briggs, Kim Brown, Cosmo Catalano, Adriana Cozzolino, Judy Kocsis, Gary Lohnes, Kris Maloney, Michelle Migdal, Joe Moran, Norm Parker, Dennis Richard, Judi Willette

Absent: Cheryl Brewer, Michael Chapman, Pete Mazzacco

Old Business:

• CPR course offering: courses will be offered evenings of the third and seventeenth of November, an additional class might be offered if necessary. A sign-up sheet will be at the Wellness Fair.
• Sit Safe, etc. programs: Cosmo reported that a room is booked for November 17 and that announcements had gone out to the campus. 20 slots available.
• Wooden steps at 63 Park: Joe reported that saw curfs have been made between the boards as an attempt to drain the water. Waiting to see if it works.

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

1. An employee suffered a bruised foot from a dropped cover of a chemical container. Follow-up: true accident.
2. An employee suffered a strained back muscle lifting a 50 pound box. Follow-up: employee cautioned about lifting heavy loads, but considered an accident.
3. An employee was carrying a 5 gallon bucket of hot water, was bumped spilling some of the water and suffered a burned foot. Follow-up: employee was cautioned to not fill the bucket so full, but considered an accident.
4. A cook cut left thumb on a meat slicer. Follow-up: employee not paying close enough attention, but considered an accident.
   
   At this point there was some discussion about mutually contradictory assessments on accident reports: of course there are true accidents, but should an injury resulting from inattention (meat slicer) or poor judgement (carrying a full five gallon bucket of hot water) be considered true accidents? Joe said that he was planning to address this issue with supervisors who fill out the accident reports.
   
   
5. A custodian suffered a strained neck and back from a fall down some stairs. Follow-up: new stair nosing is being installed as well as signage.
6. A window washer felt his knee pop while on a ladder. Follow-up: pending.
7. A Dining Services employee stood up under a dumpster handle. Follow-up: true accident.
8. A baker has suffered severe pain in hands for 12 months. Follow -up: pending.
9. A caterer tripped entering door at the log. Follow-up: getting prices for renovation of the doorway.
10. An employee doing recycling suffered a pulled groin while lifting a half-filled bag of magazines at the Agway barn. Follow-up: pending.
11. A Dining Services employee suffered a hurt leg while walking in Greylock driveway. Follow-up: likely caused by construction debris, true accident.
12. A B&G employee dropped a heater cabinet cover on left toes, possible break. Follow-up: should have asked for help.
    
    This raised the question as to whether or not the College supplied steel-toed shoes. Joe replied that it doesn't: a few years ago an investigation determined that most employees were not at common risk of toe injury and that steel toed shoes were often very uncomfortable, hence it was deemed inappropriate to require them of employees who didn't really need them.
    
    
13. A B&G employee was entering a Bilko door unit and noticed a skunk emerging from under a nearby porch. While keeping his attention on the skunk, he slipped and fell on the stairs. Follow-up: it was determined that one half of the Bilko unit had been left open and the stairs were wet and slippery. The stairs will get no-skid strips.

Additional New Business:

• The Wellness Fair will be on November 10 from 10 AM to 3 PM. Committee member shifts:

  10-11 AM	Bob Briggs & Kim Brown
  11-12 AM	George Aitken & Cosmo Catalano
  12-1 PM	Norm Parker & Michelle Migdal
  1-2 PM	Judi Willette, Jody Kocsis & Michael Chapman
  2-3 PM	Gary Lohnes, Dennis Richard & Cheryl Brewer

• Kim reported there were numerous responses from the campus-wide mailing. Many were not applicable to the Committee However:
  • Concern was expressed about being hit by the Lasell men's locker room doors when opened from the other side. Joe will look into putting a vertical strip of glass in them.
  • Concern was expressed about the level of training in the sciences regarding the handling/disposal of potentially dangerous materials, both internally and for the custodians working there. Kim will draft a query.
  • Many people expressed concerns about the upcoming winter conditions of the walkways, driveways, etc. Joe suggested Kim refer these people to Bea who is currently organizing a publicity blitz about the new anti-ice product the College hopes to use this winter.
  • A concern was expressed that 63 Park is too dark at night. Judy will check on it and report to Joe.
  • A concern was expressed about parking congestion on Lab Campus Drive. Joe agreed it can be a problem, but often the vehicles are of some necessity: B&G, contractors and delivery trucks. A solution did not seem readily apparent.

Dining Services Safety Committee:

• Jody reported that it had been decided to put up a safety board in all dining halls with changing topics, such as proper knife handling, etc.

Next meeting: Tuesday, Nov. 16, noon at the Faculty House.

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