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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSafety Committee Minutes (22) o' m 0 T 5 fi Y 119 0 C M r-I n ri O N O N L E aj a' CW CL N u ix H Mbn Qa C a; p �� Q U a 41 c� V1 W D a z � c� L W ui Z H (D Z H C� WLO W c W Q O Z Q O W W m U W O d F- N U w >- z LZLI Z OC U Z H Q W ixU LLJ Q LL The quarterly safety meeting will be at 1:30 PM on Wednesday, September 20,2017 in the conference room on the first floor of City Hall. If you are unable to attend personally kindly select someone to attend in your place. It would be appreciated if you would notify the shop stewards or safety representatives of the meeting also. The proposed Safety Meeting Agenda is; • Review of the Respiratory Program - Updated August 18, 2017 • Other business or concerns Safety Committee Meeting—September 20,20171:30PM In Attendance:Justin Baker, Brandon Comey, Karen Courtney, Nathan Herman, Rick Musson, HP Nuernberger, Brent Peters,Tim Reiter, Nancy Schmidt, Fran Schweigert, Matt Wheeler Absent: Heidi Jensen, Kurt Markegard Meeting called to order at 1:30 PM. Karen Courtney introduced herself to the Committee. Explained reviewing files from Keith's notes and found that Respiratory Program had been consistent item that came up during meetings and in emails. Discussions were held with Kurt Markegard and Tim Reiter about program. Necessary items are ready to be ordered but the program needs to be in place therefore felt this was an item to start with. Only one revision had been added since the previous revision in March, 2017—added in SCBA definition. Opened the floor for any questions or other changes needing to be made. 1. HP Nuernberger had concerns with the section referring to Required Respirator for concrete Sawing with Asbestos. He stated that there needed to be more PPE than just the respirator when dealing with Asbestos and some decontamination so that the dust is not remaining on their clothes and being taken back home. Is that going to be addressed in this program as well? Karen stated she would like to look at PPE for different positions to ensure that it is available where needed. Rick asked if there was any policy that stated that this is the PPE you would need to wear. If the City is going to spend the money on the PPE and it was not being used since not in policy. Tim stated that they spray water on it while they are sawing and therefore there is no dust from sawing. Karen stated that this is just the Respiratory Program and not a complete PPE program as it is required by OSHA standards to have in place as it had been brought up in a Safety Audit. 2. HP Nuernberger had a question concerning the medical evaluations that are required—he asked what the City's plan was for employees that did not pass that. Karen stated that would be up to Kurt and Tim, as Kurt will be the program administrator of the Respiratory Program.As Kurt was unable to attend the meeting it is something that would have to be discussed with him.Tim Reiter stated that there was nothing decided that he could discuss at this time. 3. Brent Peters stated that going back to the concerns about PPE for Asbestos—he would be willing to supply a copy of the Policies they use at the Exxon Refinery. Gave brief overview of what procedures they follow. He also explained about fit testing on a yearly basis and what Exxon refinery has done if they do not pass their medical evaluation. 4. HP stated that this was not something that was done on a day to day basis from the items that were described in the program.Tim stated that it was for changing tanks that it would be required. HP stated then that isn't an everyday task. He did have another concern as it deals with facial hair as it states to be clean shaven and that the tanks are scheduled with a couple days lead time and from what he understands that they are not responding to emergencies what happens when you are not going to be wearing it. Karen stated that she knew this had come up in prior conversations and it is a requirement of the program. HP understood about needing to be shaven when wearing it, it was more when not wearing it. Karen stated that as there may be a leak or they may have to enter to work on it when not an emergency they will not have time to shave and then put on mask so need to be ready at any time.This is just about being safe and is necessary. Brent stated at the refinery they are required to be clean shaven and are only allowed 1 day growth of facial hair. Stated that with some companies that if you can have it shaved enough to pass the fit test some facial hair may be fine. Exxon has just set standard at clean shaven.The key is to pass the fit test. He suggest that the City just require that they have to pass the fit test and can test randomly at any time to ensure they pass a fit test. HP stated it may be something they need to find wording through Labor Management to make it clear to everyone. Brent offered to find the information they had when Exxon allowed facial hair. Brandon Comey asked if this is also going to pertain to the Utilities personnel as they are entering the lift stations.Tim stated that if any job is going to require you to wear one of these masks you will be required to be clean shaven. Brandon asked about the Utilities personnel entering and if the air is continually monitored.Justin Baker stated they do not enter them, but going into the fence and reading them the air is not always monitored. Brent stated that the Stillwater Mine has masks that guys with full beards can wear.Tim asked if he was talking about the hood style. Keith checked into these and were not approved for the use by the State, it has to be a mask. Matt Wheeler asked if anyone had checked to see if the State had anything based on population or size that this may not be required at the plants. Karen stated that when the Safety Audit was done,this was something that the City was "dinged"for by the Department of Labor& Industry. The point of H2S monitors being utilized for Utilities personnel was discussed and Matt Wheeler stated they would be ordered but they could not be sitting in the trucks and not used. Brent explained about H2S exposure and gave his suggestions on use by Utilities personnel. Also stated he could gather that information as well.The plant has their monitor that goes off at 5.These are disposable with a 2 year battery and then replaced. Brent stated that everyone needs to buy into the Safety Program and why it is there. Utilizing PPE properly per the safety program and not because the city is making you wear it. 5. Matt Wheeler stated that he believed from previous meetings being reviewed that all other issues had been resolved except this one. Even with the recommendations from this committee having been stated this item has still not been done. His concern is if we will be revisiting this again in 3 months. Karen stated that everything has been approved to move forward and that the review and approval of this program by the Safety Committee is all that is needed so we can adopt the program and get everything ordered. 6. HP asked if the language could be changed from being clean shaven to allowing to have facial hair that does not interfere with the fit test. Karen stated that could be changed and HP felt that would take care of the issue. 7. HP stated Keith someone come check the SCBAs at the plant and they were found to be out of date, Karen stated she was told that those were fixed and Tim stated that they had been replaced at the plant so they were taken care of.The ones at the other plant will just go away. Karen asked if there were any other items that had not been addressed that was previously discussed by the Safety Committee. 1. Matt stated that all other items had been resolved and that this was the last item. Once this was done we were at a fresh start with no outstanding issues. Karen stated she is looking at other options for the monthly Safety videos as the crews have stated they are out dated and are a bit of a joke.There is information online and could be utilized. Please send suggestions for what they would like covered during these monthly safety trainings. Brent shared the information about the Bullex Fire Extinguisher trainer,this is transportable so he is willing to bring it around to the departments, do a presentation on fire extinguisher safety and how to use it. Brent asked if there were fire extinguishers on all of the trucks. It was stated that there are fire extinguishers in the trucks. Brent will let us know when they have the presentation and everything put together so we can start scheduling the departments. Karen made everyone aware that October 23—27 Billings is having Safety Fest—she will not be able to attend due to another training that she will be at.Tim asked if he could get the information emailed to him about Safety Fest. Discussion started again pertaining to what would happen if people did not pass the medical evaluation. It was reiterated that what we are discussing is the program that OSHA and the State requires and what happens with those that do not pass medical is through Administrative decision. Brent explained that there are 3 different controls for every hazard:#1 is PPE—there is always a level of PPE to take care of any hazard.#2 is Procedural—procedures can be written to mitigate those hazards. And#3 is Engineering Controls—these are facilities or systems that are put into place to mitigate the hazard. So with anything that you are bringing as suggestions to Karen you need to be thinking of ways that you can address in these 3 controls. Matt asked about how they handle the Chlorine when they have to deal with it and is there companies that would be able to come change these out and service when needed. Nathan stated it varies of how often they need to change out and would not be feasible to have them come out and pay for the service.The equipment is more cost effective. A future training topic of dealing with hostile people was discussed. No further items were brought up and meeting was adjourned at 2:15 PM. Footnotes: Spoke with Heidi later in the afternoon about what needed to be done next to move forward with Respiratory Program. She stated she just needed to sign it. I created a page with proper wording and Heidi signed off on the Program. Copy made with acknowledgement forms and given to Tim Reiter for the Water Plant. o MLLEX RG3E= Ell"If l��r�SCcMSG,IER M)AME-G' Bullex training system can educate the public in a scenario based training on the proper use of fire extinguishers. In the near future we will be putting a training program together so we can hire out to train people. We are in the process of putting the program and the costs together. We will be able to do this to help recover the cost of Bullex system . We will train only city employees free of charge. We will treat the other trainings on a case by case bases. Having this training system will allow us to train the community, local business, hospitals, assisted living facilities, day cares, schools, special community events, fairs, etc. We will be looking for ideas on uses for this training system . It will only be allowed to be used by a City of Laurel Fire Fighter. We are very fortunate to have a trainer like this. To my knowledge the only other one in the area is at Stillwater Mine.