Summary of Departmental Health and Safety Committee Activities

As of August 1, 2000

 

 

 

Department of Administrative and Financial Services

·         Publishes a periodic safety newsletter

·         Established a subcommittee to deal with safety issues associated with the renovations to the State Office Building

·         Assisted in the recruitment and training of departmental ergonomic workstation evaluators

·         Established and funded a CD-ROM VDT training program on a laptop computer to be circulated throughout the department

·         Distributed ice scrapers to all DAFS employees to increase awareness of ice and snow safety issues

·         Requested and reviewed a special ergonomic study of the injuries to employees at the liquor stores

·         Worked to establish a pilot safety program and safety committee within the Postal/Printing Center

·         Encouraged the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner to work with Bureau Directors to improve the safety culture within their bureau.  The Commissioner has met with each Bureau Director to review a draft bureau safety plan. Bureau directors are now finalizing their bureau’s written safety plan.

 

Department of Agriculture

·         Reviewing safety activities at satellite facilities

·         Sponsored a department-wide clean-up day

·         Established a safety resources table on one of the floors of the Deering Building

 

Department of Conservation

·         Developed bureau level safety committees

·         Reviewing safety equipment policies

·         Arranged back schools to be held throughout the department

·         Revised the Harlow Building Emergency Action Plan

·         Reviewing the results of the Bureau of Labor Standards Public Sector Safety and Health Initiative inspection results

·         Established subcommittees to work on:

Ø       Policies

Ø       Injury statistics

Ø       Training

Ø       Lifting and Lifting Equipment

·         Developed a safety newsletter

·         Focusing on the following initiatives:

Ø      Back and lifting injuries

Ø      Research and development of safety policies

Ø      Chemical Identification and Hazard Communication

·         Coordinating the following activities:

Ø      Development and use of worksite specific safety checklists

Ø      Health and safety training required as determined by job class

Ø      Providing department – wide access to OSHA information

Ø      Statewide safety training

Ø      Bureau of Labor Standards’ Public Sector Safety and Health Initiative

·         Regular review of the work of bureau level safety committees

·         Sponsored a department – wide training session on workplace violence

·         Involved in the health related issues associated with the outdoors work of departmental employees

 

Cultural Agencies

·         Developing a new safety committee to service four agencies

·         Focus on ergonomic – musculoskeletal issues and Emergency Action Plans

 

Department of Economic and Community Development

·         Working on ergonomic issues

·         Developing a health and safety day

·         Ongoing review of injury data

·         Developed an Emergency Action Plan for their building

·         Updating first-aid supplies and equipment

 

Department of Education

·         Revised departmental safety policy

·         Working on building indoor air quality issues

·         In conjunction with the University of Southern Maine, conducted an employee safety survey

·         Following up on issues identified by survey:

Ø      Indoor Air Quality

Ø      Communication

Ø      Employees working in pain

·         Dealing with issues associated with the department’s move into the State Office Building

·         Developing a health and safety committee website

·         Facilitating the presentation of a department – wide seminar on “Navigating the Waves of Change”

·         Sponsoring a departmental clean-up program in anticipation of the move to the State Office Building

 

 

 

 

Department of Environmental Protection

·         Monitoring health issues within the Bureau of Remediation and Hazardous Waste

·         Monitoring safety programs and activities at the bureau and regional office level

·         Developing a safety committee web page

·         Developing a department – wide safety meeting

·         Developing an ergonomics policy and program

·         Monitoring indoor air quality issues in the Ray Building

·         Monitoring the implementation of departmental safety policies, programs and training

·         Supporting wellness activities on the AMHI campus

·         Revising the Ray Building Emergency Action Plan

·         On – going review of safety complaints and issues

·         Reviewing departmental safety procedures and guidelines

 

Department of Human Services

·         Developed departmental employee ergonomic evaluators

·         Developed safety committees at the building/area level

 

Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife

·         Using a college safety program intern for special projects – e.g. hearing protection, etc.

·         On – going review of safety complaints and issues

·         On – going review of injury data

·         Research and development of safety policies

·         Focus on lifting and back injuries

·         Development of lifting – back injury prevention video

·         Involved in the health related issues associated with the outdoors work of departmental employees

·         Involved in the issue of disposal of the department’s hazardous waste

 

Department of Labor

·         On – going review of safety complaints and issues at DOL facilities

·         Arranged for the provision of department – wide safety training for employees

·         Developing a Facility Health and Safety Checklist

·         Redefined the roles and responsibilities of the health and safety committee

·         Monitoring of indoor air quality issues at DOL facilities

 

Department of Marine Resources

 

 

Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services

·         Meeting jointly with the department’s wellness committee

·         Expanded the committee to include each facility’s safety officer

·         Working to develop a comprehensive department – wide safety program

·         Reviewing departmental safety policies

·         Working on department – wide safety training

·         Conducting inspections of each department facility

 

Department of Professional and Financial Regulation

·         Sponsors an annual employee health and safety picnic

·         Revised the department’s health and safety policy

·         Sponsoring department – wide safety training

·         Conducting quarterly facility safety inspections

·         Involved in building air quality and security issues

·         Developing a safety standard for field personnel

·         Conducting workstation evaluations

·         Maintaining fire extinguishers and first aid kits

·         Continuing to issue monthly safety tips

·         Established a health and safety bulletin board

·         Provided updated training for members of the Building Response Team

·         Gave out 9v batteries for employee home smoke detectors

 

Department of Transportation

·         On – going review of departmental safety policies

·         On – going review of safety complaints and issues

·         On – going review of injury data

·         Involved in the state- wide issue and effort of highway work zone safety

·         In conjunction with the University of Southern Maine, conducted an employee safety survey

·         Following up on issues identified by survey:

Ø      Employees working in pain

Ø      Variation in safety culture by division

Ø      Clarification of the responses received regarding the impact on safety of the use of drugs and alcohol by employees 

·         Monitoring of the indoor air quality issues at DOT headquarters

 

 

 

If your committee’s activities are not listed or the activities listed are not current, please send a copy of your meeting minutes on an ongoing basis to Bill McPeck either electronically or via Interoffice mail at 114 State House Station, for inclusion in future updates.