Maine Occupational Research Agenda (MORA) Meeting
Minutes

Bureau of Labor Standards

Third Floor Conference Room

October 12, 2005

 

 

Staff Present: Ted Bradstreet, Steve Greeley, Terry Hathaway, & Leslie Manning

 

Staff Absent: John Rioux

 

Members Present: Peter Doran (ALAM), Carol Eckert (MIOHE), Saskia Janes (Maine Public Health Association), Ginger Jordan-Hillier (DEP), Ruth Lawson-Stopps (Occupational Health Associates), Kim Lim (Bureau of Labor Standards), Desi-Rae Mason (Maine Asthma Program), Ivan Most (Strategic Occupational Health), John Newton (OSHA), & Leslie Walleigh (Workplace Health/Bureau of Health).

 

Members Absent: Peter Crockett (MLGH), Sharon D’Orsie (USM), Denise Dumont (U.S. HealthWorks), Jonathan Lepoff (Consultant), Louise Morang (MAOHN), Steve Minkowsky (Maine Workers’ Compensation Board), Pat Philbrook (Maine State Nurses Association), & Cathy Schultz (Maine Workers’ Compensation Board)

 

Guests: Michael Rowland (Maine Migrant Health Program), Bill Freeman (OSHA), & Patti Roderick  (Maine Medical Center)

 

 

Leslie Walleigh, Vice Chair, called the meeting to order at 9:08 AM.

 

 

As guests were present, introductions were made. Bill Freeman spoke briefly about his work with OSHA. Based in Boston, Bill is currently the Special Projects Coordinator for OSHA, allowing him to work with various groups in Maine .

 

 

Approval of September 14, 2005 Minutes.  Carol Eckert made a motion to accept the minutes of September 14^th as written. Peter Doran seconded the motion. Vote, unanimous

 

Occupational Asthma Presentation – Patti Roderick (Maine Medical Center. Patti Roderick gave a presentation on a Fact Sheet for employers concerning “Worksite Air Quality”. She is working with the Norm Anderson of the American Lung Association of Maine. Members of MORA are welcome to provide input. Further discussion took place. Leslie Manning suggested marketing the Fact Sheet as an employee wellness program. Peter Doran suggested MIAQC (Maine Indoor Air Quality Council) as a vehicle for pushing awareness. He also suggested she contact Rick Donahue, a doctor from Vinalhaven, who has worked with lobstermen. Leslie Manning also suggested contacting the Teamsters as well as the professional licensing boards for cosmetology, etc. Steve Greeley suggested that the Fact Sheet contain solutions rather than just questions.

 

One of the research areas for MORA is occupational asthma. This would be of interest to the Program Committee.

 

Committee Updates. As the Program and Finance Committees have not had a chance to meet, Leslie Manning suggested that they meet immediately prior to the regularly scheduled MORA meeting. For November, the groups would meet from 9:00 to 10:30 AM and start the regular MORA meeting at 10:30 A.M. to Noon.

 

Ruth encouraged members to join one of the committees.

 

Ruth also recommended that Mike Rowland, Maine Migrant Health Program, be a regular member of the MORA Steering Committee. Vote, unanimous. He will join the Program Committee.

 

Terry will forward the Fact Sheet to MORA along with the contact information for Patti Roderick.  Members may provide suggestions as well as contacts for Patti Roderick.

PDAG Update – Leslie Manning. Leslie spoke with Bill. The status of the draft report is that it is finished. The final product will be done tomorrow.

 

Leslie also stated that the work group now has two working sub-groups. Data, which has Al Mayo, Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (formerly the Maine Bureau of Health) as Chair and Prevention, which has Dave Wacker, Maine Bureau of Labor Standards, Workplace Safety and Health Division, as Chair. Both groups are looking for co-chairs who are not State employees.

 

Ruth, along with Steve Minkowsky, will proceed with their meeting with Senator Beth Edmonds to let her know where the process has gone before the next legislative session.

 

Leslie Manning also informed the group that the preliminary report done by Steve Minkowsky and MEMIC was received quite well at a couple of conferences; the Workers’ Comp Conference at Sugarloaf and the Safety Conference.  The Bureau of Labor Standards has started planning the SafetyWorks! class schedule for next semester. She suggested looking at teaching lay people how to use data for injury prevention purposes.

 

Peter Doran suggested Ann Backus of the Harvard School of Public Health be invited to a meeting for a presentation.

 

Carol Eckert asked if there was a way we could post upcoming events on the Maine Department of Labor web site. Leslie Manning said that MORA’s chair and/or vice chair would need to approve the posting. Adam Fisher, Assistant to the Commissioner, is the person responsible for posting information to the web site.

 

Leslie Manning announced on Thursday, October 27, 2005, there is a Migrant employer forum, from 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM at the Bangor Civic Center. The agenda will include changes in the immigration law as well as George Rioux of the U.S. Department of Labor.  There will be power point presentations available on the Bureau of Labor Standards’ web site afterwards as well as a report to MORA at the November meeting.

 

Ruth Lawson-Stopps informed MORA of the Workers’ Compensation Coordinating Council meeting also on Thursday, October 27, 2004. She will report on that at the November meeting. Also on November 3^rd and 4^th is the MEMIC Conference at Sunday River.

 

Ruth Lawson-Stopps also explained the Small Business Alliance, which is a membership organization for companies with less than 20 employees.  The Maine Primary Care Association is meeting with the Small Business Alliance regarding wellness in small business.

 

Next Meeting – Wednesday, November 9, 2005. Agenda items will include work group

update, committee updates, the Maine Migrant Forum report, and report on the Workers’ Compensation Coordinating Council meeting.

 

Adjournment. The meeting was adjourned at 11:04 A.M.

Respectfully submitted,

 

Terry M. Hathaway