HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Safety Committee Meeting 09130119
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CITY OF PALM BEACH GARDENS
MEMORANDUM
TO: Department Heads, Assistant Department Heads & Supervisors
DATE: September 24, 2001
FROM: Phyllis Stirparo, Risk Management 'Q�
SUBJECT: Safety Committee Minutes — September 13, 2001
SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
MEETING DATE: September 13, 2001 CALLED TO ORDER: 10:10 a.m.
ADJOURNED: 11:10 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Phyllis Stirparo, Risk Management - Chair
• Chris Brown, Fire — Vice Chair
Jay McKee, Public Works
Ketty Labossiere, Finance
Jay Spencer, Police
OLD BUSINESS
■ A review of the medical treatment and auto accident costs listed below were
discussed.
2000 -01 Dollars Spent
_ Medical Treatment Citywide $ 163,665 Days Lost: 330
Auto Accidents Citywide $117,915 (29) Light Duty: 395
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1999 -00 Dollars Spent
Medical Treatment Citywide $211,521.49 Days Lost: 725
Auto Accidents Citywide $47,848.47 (16) Light Duty: 548
1998 -99 Dollars Spent
Medical Treatment Citywide $315,893.83
Auto Accidents Citywide $38,867.44 (22)
0 SE T THE PA CE... I""
/5;.1 „.SAFETY IN THE
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OLD BUSINESS (Cont'd)
• The high dollar amount of auto accidents this year is attributable to the Police
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Department, which has incurred $108,988 in losses. The Police Chief is committed
to having defensive driving, and has secured a new location for this training. The
Sheriffs Department had been utilized in the past, but was very hard to schedule.
Phyllis Stirparo will propose a plan to the Chief outlining more strategic methods to
reduce these losses.
NEW BUSINESS
• The Safety Mistake Winner was drawn and Ann Schilling was the lucky employee
receiving 4 hours paid time off for having the right answer. The correct answer was
utilizing proper lifting technique.
• Chris Brown reviewed the City Manager's request to have all employees trained in
CPR/first aid.
• The Safety Committee Chairperson will go to each department and solicit new
members for the upcoming fiscal year. It was suggested that if any members wanted
to be replaced, now was the time to let your Department Head know.
Incident #'!
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A Fire Department employee was washing the bay floor and slipped and fell. It was
discovered that the degreaser container had been filled with Amor -all instead. The
employee was wearing department issued boots at the time of the fall.
Outcome: Preventable
Reasoning: This incident is preventable with better communication between employees
on different shifts, particularly when the container commonly used is marked for
degreaser, but has been changed to another product.
Incident #2
A Fire Department employee opened the west bay door with the remote control and the
driver began driving the engine into the bay. While entering the bay, the garage door
began closing and struck the roof of the engine. The roof of the engine was scraped,
the antenna was broken, and the garage door dented.
Outcome: Undeterminable
Reasoning: The policy is to have the door all the way open or closed. This garage bay
door has had repair several times. It was felt that there was interference with the
remote from another frequency. No real caused was determined. •
0 SET THE PA CE...
,SA FE Y IN THE
'``''.� WORKPLACE.
Incident #3
isA Police Department employee sprained a finger when pulling the stop sticks from the
roadway.
Outcome: Preventable
Reasoning: There was no retrieval string on the stop sticks. Considering that these
devices are supposed to be inspected before going out on the road, this incident was
determined to be preventable.
Incident #4
A Police Department employee had two incidents involving a reaction to bug spray, and
cleaners used by the janitorial staff, which caused breathing problems.
Outcome: Preventable
Reasoning: The contributing cause is hypersensitivity of employee. The City's -
contractor does not have entry in the evenings to spray problem areas. Contractor does
utilize non -toxic products. In addition, the janitorial crews have changed to low
fragrance cleaners. Public Works will work with the contractor to try to make that area
the last stop of the day. Supervisor has eliminated all foodstuffs in this area and the
• cleaning crew will try to clean as early in the morning as possible. Employee needs to
avoid these areas as much as possible, particularly the elevator when it is cleaned since
it is an enclosed area.
Incident #5
A Police Department employee slipped and fell in the main hallway on the first floor
where floors were being cleaned.
Outcome: Preventable
Reasoning: Employee's have to be extra careful when walking on wet floors, wear
rubber soled shoes. Public Works Supervisor will try to have floors done earlier.
Signage is utilized throughout the City while wet floors are drying.
Incident #6
A police Department employee was stung on the thumb by a wasp that was under a
bowl when it was picked up.
Outcome: Undeterminable
Reasoning: Committee was curious if the employee had been outside and the wasp
had come inside on his clothing. More information had been requested, but not
received. The Committee assumed that the employee had not been outside.
SET THE PACE...
SAFETY IN THE
6VORKPLACE.
Incident #7
A Public Works employee was using the chamsaw to remove trees and strained a
shoulder muscle.
Outcome: Preventable
Reasoning: While working a job that spans several days, the employee needs to make
sure that his intake of fluids is adequate, take breaks from the heat, and switch off arms
if at all possible. Supervisor can change out people so the duties are rotated if number
of people on the crew will allow for this.
Incident #8
A Public Works employee strained the left side of his back while lifting a pipe vise.
Outcome: Preventable
Reasoning: Employee should have asked for help and utilized the proper lifting
technique to avoid injury.
Incident #9
A Public Works employee hit his knee on a counter balance when he climbed out of •
vehicle to help a coworker.
Outcome: Preventable
Reasoning: Look where you are going and pay more attention to what you are doing.
Incidents #10
A Public Works employee strained his lower back when he lifted an engine cover on the
Gradall and turned while on steps to step down.
Outcome: Preventable
Reasoning: Same as above.
SE T THE PA CE...
SAFETY !N THE
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Incident #11
A Police Department employee had a sore n ec k and after making an arrest and was
placed in a head -lock and fell to the sidewalk.
Outcome: Undeterminable
Reasoning: More information was requested from supervisor, but not received. It was
unknown by the Committee why more force (pepper spray) was not utilized during this
confrontation or why officer did not obtain more help.
Incident #12
A Fire Department employee developed shortness of breath after a long period of swim
training which resulted in a pulled thoracic muscle.
Outcome: Preventable
Reasoning: Proper warmup was not given by the supervisor and should always be used
in any physical training exercise.
Incident #13
• A Growth Management employee stepped in a concealed hole in one of the landscape
islands at City Hall, twisting his ankle when he fell.
Outcome: Preventable
Reasoning: Be more aware of your surroundings when walking in areas that are not
pedestrian walkways.
Incident #14
A Public Works employee's foot slipped off of the brake while the truck was in gear,
- hitting the bumper of another vehicle.
Outcome: Preventable
Reasoning: Employee's shoe was muddy from working in the swale, which allowed for
his shoe to slip off the brake. Pay more attention to the task at hand.
SE T THE PA CE...
:SAFETY !N THE
'` C,� {'VORKPLACE.
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Incident #15
A Fire Department employee participating in dive and rescue had a sharp pain in the
head upon surfacing and was told by coworkers he had a nose bleed. .
Outcome: Non - Preventable
Reasoning: It is normal procedure to clear nose to equalize ears. No other reason
could be attributed that would have caused the nose bleed.
incident #16
A Parks & Recreation Department employee had pain in the wrist while using the
computer.
Outcome: Preventable
Reasoning: Proper placement of furniture and computer equipment should be made
available when employee has identified that they have difficulty in doing repetitive- tasks.
Use of good posture a must, and the adjustment of the office chair to fit each individual
that uses it.
VO SET THE PACE...
SAFETY /N THE
IYORKPLA CE.
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