SAFETY
ADVISORY COMMITTEE
September
20, 2007
EMU Board Room
Attendees:
Michelle Wygle, Dana Winitzky, Bob Beals,
Janice Radcliff, Michelle Gillette, Hall O’Regan
August
minutes were
approved.
Accident and
injury reports were reviewed and discussed.
There were zero time loss claims in August.
Old Business
Michelle Gillette researched the Z-Coil
shoe following a
request from Sue Martinez at the August meeting. Food
Service employees are interested in purchasing
the shoes and had asked for advice about their safety.
Michelle spoke with someone working in a
food services
environment who had been wearing the shoes for about a year. They did find them helpful, but highly
recommended getting the non-slip soles. Since
these shoes are not recommended to be worn in areas with cables, cords,
or
protruding objects, employees would need to take this into account. Also the Z-Coil website recommends that
people be cautious when driving due to the thickness of the heel. Individuals may experience muscle soreness in
the legs at first as the body adjusts.
Retailers are supposed to be good about fitting them and
making sure
that the shoes are adjusted if needed.
The advice at this time is that purchasing
the shoe would
be up to the employee. However, accident
and injury occurrences would need to be monitored.
She also suggested that orthotics can be
helpful and are often covered by health insurance.
Janice was curious whether the American
Podiatric Society has a position on this shoe.
Michelle stated that as the incidence of diabetes
increases, employees
should be made aware that there is good medical coverage for podiatric
exams
and getting prescribed orthotics or custom made shoes can be very
helpful.
New Business
Bob Beals suggested that inspection
reports be distributed
electronically, in addition to hard copy, to facilitate quicker
response time.
Michelle Wygle said Bob Beals and George
Hecht have
reported that within two weeks all the issues found during the McArthur Court
inspection will be resolved.
The next Safety
Advisory Committee meeting will be held from 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. on
Thursday, October
18th in the Dux Bistro Conference Center at the Living
Learning
Center
S.T.E.P. Team Minutes:
http://facilities.uoregon.edu/safety/step/minutes.html
Contact:
Kay Coots R.S., CSP
Environmental Health and Safety Director
Phone: (541) 346-5421
E-Mail:
kcoots@uoregon.edu
