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MINUTES
HEALTH and SAFETY MEET & CONFER COMMITTEE MEETING
November 16, 2011

In attendance: Don Beckering (MNSCU), Leon Bowman (Unit 2), Todd Christenson (Admin), Diane Curelli (DNR), Todd Haglin (DOT), Jill Kielblock (Council 5), Mike O’Dea (Unit 6),Paul Puncochar (DHS), Reena Solheid (DOC), Delphine Steiner (Unit 4), Becky Wodziak (Labor Relations), Jeff Vars (Unit 8)

Item #1: Air Quality Issues at St Cloud State

• Recent studies have been done at various campuses and will be reviewed at the upcoming MNSCU Safety Meeting on December 9th

Item #2: Federal OSHA Communication (Prevention of Workplace Violence and Health Care & Social Worker Guidelines)

• Some folks were aware of the new directives/guidelines related to Workplace Violence and found the compliance directives were pretty focused on specific areas that you would expect them to be
• Todd C. will review and see if there are any general reminders that need to be sent out

Item #3: Impact of Staffing Reductions on Workplace Safety

• Union would like information about workplace injuries and worker comp claims in DHS broken down by worksite or type of worksite and over a period of time for comparison purposes
• Will need to talk with Joe Piwoschuk who isn’t here today to get the information Union is requesting from DHS – Todd C. and Paul P. will talk to him about what might be available
• Any information we can get will be shared before the next meeting

Item #4: Slip Trip Fall Campaign

• Winter campaign is underway – posters are available at http://www.admin.state.mn.us/risk/safety/slip_trip_fall_prevention.html
• For the next meeting, put on your thinking caps for the non-winter campaign to brainstorm ideas for slogans and posters
  • Water on the Floor
  • Uneven Pavement
  • Carrying too much

Item #5: Governor’s Safety Initiative

• The “challenge” issued by the governor was to hold agencies accountable on increasing workplace safety
• The Interagency Safety Committee has translated this into a 25% reduction in the incident rate of worker comp claims over the next three years
• The rate has been basically flat since 2003 (number of claims that weren’t denied and paid at least $1 per 100 employees)
• Todd C. had prepared a safety initiative document which the Governor has signed and now will be asking Commissioner’s to sign
• Each agency will have to decide the way to meet the goal
• MNSCU is doing the same thing with the Chancellor and each Campus President

Issues from last meeting:

• DOC at Oak Park Heights – Issue with stairs
  • The physical plant has looked at different surfaces
  • Safety officer has been addressing with management and individually with staff about being more careful, less hasty
  • Appears to have been addressed

Item #6: 2012 Meeting Dates

• For now schedule for the 4th Wednesday of odd months from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.; all meetings will be at the AFSCME Council 5 office (the November meeting will be in the BA Conference Room; all other meetings in the Hennessy Room)
  • January 25th
  • March 28th
  • May 23rd
  • July 25th
  • September 26th
  • November 14th

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