Occupational Safety and Health Data Collection and Injury Prevention Work Group

  • June 20, 2007:

Minutes:

Occupational Safety and Health Data Collection and Injury Prevention Work Group

Minutes

Bureau of Labor Standards Central Maine Commerce Center Marion Martin Conference Room June 20, 2007

Present: William Peabody, Chair (Maine Department of Labor); John Rioux (Maine Department of Labor); Brad Howard (Maine Workers? Compensation Board); Al May (Maine Center for Disease Control); Louise Morang (Maine Association of Occupational Nurses); Leslie Walleigh (Workplace Health); and Dave Wacker (Maine Department of Labor).

Absent: Brad Brown (Maine Bureau of Insurance); Brian Doe (Hannaford); Jeff Levesque (Workers' Compensation Board); Kim Lim (Maine Department of Labor); Peter Doran (Maine Occupational Research Agenda); Stephanie Jazlowiecki (McTeague-Higbee); Steve Minkowsky (Workers' Compensation Board); Kathy Schulz (Workers' Compensation Board); and Vanessa Santarelli (Maine Department of Labor).

Staff Present: Terry Hathaway and Ted Bradstreet

Call to Order: Bill Peabody called the meeting to order at 10:12 a.m.

Introductions were made as Brad Howard was sitting in for Jeff Levesque.

May 16, 2007 Minutes: Motion made by John Rioux to accept the minutes as written. Seconded by Louise Morang. Vote, unanimous.

Small Business Survey Analysis: Bill said that an interim meeting was held. John further explained that the group who attended the interim meeting looked over the first set of compiled data. The survey was sent to small businesses in Maine who employ 1 to 49 employees. Ted will be doing a first draft once John hands him the information. John will bring the draft to this group for the next meeting. The draft will include recommendations from the ad hoc group. Also, the work group can suggest recommendations.

One of the survey questions was about web-based training; only 29 percent said yes, so we can?t rely on the web to do training for small employers.

Leslie added that in devising the survey, it was assumed that the small employers had basic knowledge of workers? compensation and insurers; but, based on the results of the survey, employers are not knowledgeable. Small businesses need a basic understanding of how Workers? Compensation, OSHA, etc. work. Discussion followed regarding how the Maine Department of Labor?s 23 Career Centers are geared to the small employer, usually one-on-one, but could have training.

Bill suggested a follow-up survey for either late this year or early next year, so ? in the meantime - the group can come up with ways to improve the survey.

Bill said the next step is to refine what is seen in the survey.

How Workers? Compensation Moves Through the Bureau of Labor Standards: John said there was a two-day VSM (Value Stream Mapping) meeting. As a result, he gave members a hand out showing the Bureau of Labor Standards? (BLS) Coding Process in its Current State as well as in its Future State. He also listed the actions, which are:

? Improve incoming data quality ? Improve quality of reports and outgoing data ? Combine four (4) automated steps in three (3) processes into one monthly computer run ? Make the ?Characteristics? publication a tri-fold.

Currently, the coder is doing a sample of 600 cases to determine the proportion of cases that have problems. Coders are doing more complex coding due to the NAICS (North American Industrial Classification System), which replaces the SIC (Standard Industrial Coding), changeover and EDI. John also handed out the BLS Coding VSM Implementation Plan. The VSM group will be meeting with Paul Fortier, Workers? Compensation Board, on Tuesday, June 26th.

Occupational Disease Reporting ? Leslie Walleigh: Bill will e-mail Andy Smith to set up a meeting between BLS and Maine CDC (Center for Disease Control).

Maine Health Data Organization ? Leslie Walleigh: Leslie will chart a review on carbon dioxide poisoning and analyze how accurate coding data was for diagnosis and work-relatedness. Then, she will meet with the Maine Health Data Organization to identify ways to improve hospital discharge data to identify work-relatedness.

Legislative Update: Bill handed out a listing of the legislative bills and their status. He also said that today is the statutory adjournment of the Legislature.

Other: Dave Wacker suggested inviting Bill Coffin, OSHA Area Director, to one of the work group?s meeting. Terry will e-mail Bill to invite him.

Next Meeting: The next meeting will be held Wednesday, July 18, 2007, 10:00 to 11:30 a.m., in the Frances Perkins Conference Room A., Central Maine Commerce Center.

Adjournment - The meeting adjourned at 11:37 a.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Terry M. Hathaway, Recording Secretary