SAFETY ADVISORY COMMITTEE

December 15, 2005

EMU Rogue

Attendees:   Michelle Wygle, Sue Martinez, Michelle Gillette, Hall O’Regan, Avis Thompson, Mark Maguire, Cheryl Henderson, Ernie Svennson, Kay Coots, Steve Pelkey, Dana Winitzky, Tom Hicks, Kathy Viscarra, Ernie Pressman  

Accident and injury reports were reviewed and discussed.

There was one time loss claim in November.

Kathy asked for more information about the accident in Housing that resulted in a head contusion.  Michelle Gillette explained that the contents of an upper shelf that was on a cart in the middle of the freezer fell onto an employee.  Sue was also familiar with this accident and explained that instead of using a step stool, the employee stepped on a lower shelf and that caused the top shelf to tip.  Kay suggested that it might be possible to anchor the equipment to the ceiling or floor.  Sue and Kay will follow up with the supervisor to seek a solution.  It was also strongly recommended that Food Service purchase a better quality stool for this freezer in Hamilton.

Subcommittee Report

The Inspection Subcommittee is scheduled to visit Agate Hall on December 20^th. 

New Business

Kathy is concerned about the safety and liability issues when employees bring infants to work.  Two employees in the EMU bring their babies to work for long periods of time, on a regular basis.  Ernie Pressman suggested that Karen Logvin be consulted.  The committee asked Ernie to invite Karen to attend the next meeting or respond via letter.

Tom alerted the committee that some departments are considering removing courtesy phones and replacing them with emergency phones in an effort to save money. He asked for suggestions about gathering more information on the impact that this would have.  Kay recommended Greta Pressman, and Sue suggested Mike Eyster to get their views on the impact if the courtesy phones were removed.

Steve said that when employees called DPS to report a skate boarder that was hitching a ride behind another state vehicle, dispatch did not provide any assistance.  Tom will follow up.

Hall is concerned that third shift employees in Housing are required to remain after shifts in order to attend meetings and training sessions.  Also, the third shift employees’ schedule changes and they work the day shift for a short period of time during spring break.  This is a very difficult and potentially dangerous transition for people on a graveyard shift.  He asked how training is handled in another department such as Facilities Services.  Steve said they conduct all training sessions during the employees’ shift.  It was suggested that Housing employees on third shift join Facilities Services for training whenever feasible.  Kay said she would talk to Nancy Wright about possible solutions.

The next Safety Advisory Committee meeting will be held on Thursday, January 19 from  9:00 – 10:00 a.m. in the EMU Umpqua Room.

S.T.E.P. Team Minutes: http://facilities.uoregon.edu/safety/step/minutes.html

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Contact:

Kay Coots R.S., CSP
Environmental Health and Safety Director
Phone: (541) 346-5421
E-Mail: kcoots@uoregon.edu