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Minutes
Bureau of Labor Standards
Third Floor Conference Room
Staff Present: Ted
Bradstreet, Steve Greeley, Terry Hathaway, Leslie Manning, Desi-Rae Mason,
& John Rioux.
Members Present: Sharon D’Orsie (USM), Peter Doran (ALAM), Carol
Eckert (MIOHE), Saskia
Janes (Maine Public Health Association), Ginger Jordan-Hillier (DEP), Jonathan Lepoff
(Consultant), Ruth Lawson-Stopps (Occupational
Health Associates), Kim Lim (Bureau of Labor Standards), & Leslie Walleigh (Workplace
Health/Bureau of Health).
Members Absent:
Brad Brown
(Bureau of Insurance), Valerie Carter (Bureau of Labor Education), Peter
Crockett (MLGH), Denise Dumont (U.S. HealthWorks), Jeff Levesque
(Maine Workers’ Compensation Board), Dwight Littlefield (Maine Bureau of
Health), Heather Mason
(Maine Safety Council), Steve Minkowsky (Maine Workers’ Compensation
Board), Ivan Most
(Strategic Occupational Health), John Newton (OSHA), Louise Morang
(MAOHN), & Pat
Philbrook (Maine State Nurses Association).
Guest:
Bill Peabody, Director, Maine Bureau of Labor Standards.
Jonathan Lepoff, Chair, opened the meeting at 9:08 A.M.
Members introduced themselves as there were some new faces present.
Approval of November 10, 2004 Minutes. Peter Doran made a motion to accept the minutes. Sharon
D’Orsie, seconded. Vote, unanimous.
Prevention Data Advisory Group (PDAG) Update. Peter Doran provided an update of
the PDAG work group. Ginger asked what the title meant and what the purpose of
the group was. Peter explained that the official name of the group is the
Occupational Safety and Health Data Collection and Injury Prevention Work
Group. The work group was initiated by MORA to get a better handle on data
collection and injury prevention in Maine. Peter explained that this work group
is a broad composition of both public and private groups. They meet on the
third Wednesday of the month. Bill Peabody is the chair.
At the last meeting of PDAG, Ann Beaulieu (Research and
Statistics Unit, Maine Bureau of Labor Standards) did a presentation on how
they code the Workers’ Compensation First Reports and the involvement between
the Bureau of Labor Standards and Workers’ Compensation. Also, Jeff Levesque presented a follow-up
regarding Dirigo concerning proposed questions that involve occupational safety
and health on the initial intake questionnaire in hopes that Dirigo could also
provided data on occupational health issues.
Also, PDAG has undertaken a comprehensive review of several
data collection sources. Bill Peabody will be drafting a report of
recommendations to the Legislature. The group should be reviewing this at the
next meeting.
Ruth Lawson-Stopps reminded MORA members of the original
intent of the legislation; it was to include Medical Only (First Reports of
Injury) to collect more data. According to what she is hearing, nothing is
being done.
Leslie Manning asked Bill Peabody to come into the meeting
to explain further how PDAG works and also to get a copy of the current Labor
Committee members from the current Legislature.
Leslie returned and handed out copies of the current Labor
Committee. Bill told the group that rules had been drafted concerning Medical
Only reports and that everything was still on track. He did emphasize that the
rules could be changed, but would need to be done publicly with a chance for
comment.
Peter suggested that at PDAG a follow-up be made with Jeff
Levesque and a report back at next month’s MORA meeting.
Bill further explained that the Bureau does an annual “Troika” report, which is called “The Annual
Report on the Status of the Maine Workers’ Compensation Commission”. This
report is done in conjunction with the Bureau of Insurance as well as the Maine
Workers’ Compensation Board.
Bill did explain that the Bureau does not have the
resources to code the Medical Only. He believes there are two states requiring
the insurance carriers to pre-code.
Update of MOU between BLS and MORA. Leslie Manning provided an update
as John Rioux was not able to attend this meeting. There was a draft of the MOU
in the packet, along with the comments. Leslie asked members to review and get
back to her with any suggestions. With the budgetary issues and hiring freeze,
BLS has six (6) vacant positions. BLS would not be able to pay for any
project-related costs.
Also, Leslie asked that MORA prepare a code of conduct so
there is no conflict of interest. Ginger suggested that MORA have an Assistant
Attorney General come to the meeting to find out what MORA can and cannot do as
there is a fine line. Leslie Manning will check into this.
Election of Vice Chair. Jonathan led the discussion and
asked if there were any volunteers; no response. The vice chair assists the
chair and will maintain that role for a year; then, will step A couple of folks
were nominated, but declined. Leslie Walleigh was nominated and accepted the
position of vice chair.
2005 Conference Update. Leslie Ingraham, University of New
England (UNE), could not be present. Kim Lim provided a draft of the brochure for
the MORA Symposium to be held May 25 and 26, 2005 at the University of New
England, Biddeford Campus. So far, there is a possibility of 39 presenters. Kim
is waiting for confirmation before the final brochure is printed at the end of
the month. After this conference, there will be no money in the kitty for
another conference. Kim is still looking for supporters of the lobster bake.
When asked what recognition the supporters would receive, he said that they
would be recognized in the MORA program. Kim will check with Leslie Ingraham
for a list of accommodations in the Biddeford area. Kim asked the members
e-mail him with how many brochures they would need to mail out to their
respective groups. Also, there is a need for facilitators from MORA. Once the presenters
are confirmed, the facilitators will be assigned.
Leslie Manning told the group about the Maine Department of
Labor’s disclaimer stating that we guarantee universal access and we need to be
contacted if the Bureau is funding part of the conference. Kim Lim with work
with UNE regarding universal access.
Kim told members to check the web site for complete details
regarding the 2005 Conference.
Open Forum – Calendar of Guests for 2005. Terry will do follow-ups on the
list of possible speakers for this year.
Leslie Manning said that there is an increasing concern
that employers are not responding to violence; nothing is being done in terms
of prevention or responsibility. Desi-Rae Mason is willing to do a presentation
on workplace violence for MORA.
Discussion ensued and Peter Doran suggested that as MORA
has already identified priorities, there is no reason they can’t be looked at
again to see if workplace violence could be one of MORA’s priorities.
Next Meeting – Wednesday, February 9, 2005 – Agenda.
The following will be
included on next month’s agenda:
Approval of Today’s Minutes
2005
Conference Update
PDAG
Update
Open Forum
Steve
Laundrie?
Adjournment. Jonathan adjourned the meeting at 12:36 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Terry M. Hathaway