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Maine Occupational Research Agenda (MORA)
Steering Committee Meeting
Minutes
Bureau of Labor Standards
Third Floor Conference Room
March 13, 2002
Staff present: Terry Hathaway & Lynne Lamstein.
Members Present: Brad Brown
(Bureau of Insurance), Peter Doran (MIOHE), Ron Dyer (DEP), Brenda Joly (Maine
Center for Public Health), Ruth Lawson-Stopps (Occupational Health Associates),
Kim Lim (Maine Bureau of Labor Standards), Jonathan Torres (Workmed). &
Leslie Walleigh (Workplace Health).
Members Absent: Dan Cote (MEMIC), Peter Crockett (MLGH), Denise
Dumont (U.S. HealthWorks), Jonathan Lepoff, Steve Minkowsky (Maine Workers
Compensation Board), Ivan Most (Strategic Occupational Health), Peggy Parsons
(Maine Cancer Registry), & Andy Smith (Bureau of Health).
Guest: John Barry (OSHA)
Chair Peter Doran opened
the MORA Steering Committee meeting at 9:11 A.M.
Dr. Doran noted a
correction to the February 13th meeting concerning the amount of
money to be requested by the Steering Committee to the Commission on Safety and
Health in the Maine Workplace; the amount is $10,000, not $15,000 as reflected
in the Minutes. The minutes will be
corrected to reflect the change.
MORA Promotion
Subcommittee Report - Ron. This was presented jointly by Lynne, Ron, &
Jon. Lynne handed out a copy of the
MORA Outreach Meeting held on February 8, 2002. (This will be attached to the hard copy of the Minutes from this
meeting). Ron presented an overview of
the notes. Lynne suggested Steering
Committee members jot down ideas, key words, images, etc. regarding the
promotion and design of MORA. Eventually,
there will be a brochure. Jon asked for
input from the Steering Committee for fine tuning.
Ruth suggested that
research is first as that’s what MORA is about. After much discussion, it was decided that MORA is about setting
a research agenda. Once research
priorities are set, then that information can be used to increase awareness
about MORA. As MORA is not an
organization with a physical location, the brochure should be focused on having
the members of the Steering Committee be contacted via e-mail, phone, etc. MORA needs to be distinguished from other
agencies (i.e, BLS, OSHA, National Safety Council, etc.).
Discussion ensued on
focusing a research agenda. We need to
show that we have done some work and give people something to look at.
Leslie suggested that
the Data Committee come up with research questions for the next Steering
Committee meeting. Each member of the
Steering Committee should bring three questions to the next meeting to set a
research agenda so that a master list can be compiled. MORA is the foundation.
The Data Committee
and the Outreach Committees will work parallel.
MORA vs. MOSHRA -
Peter D. The Steering Committee agreed to keep the name MORA
rather than change to MOSHRA.
Symposium 2003 -
Funding Update - Ivan & Kim. Kim updated the Steering Committee regarding the
NIOSH/CDC Grant. Should be hearing
between June and September of this year if they are interested in funding
$20,000 for MORA’s Symposium to be held May 15 and 16, 2003. It looks good as we were invited to apply,
have had experience with one conference, and are the only State that has done a
lot of work in these area. Kim said
that he received letters of recommendation (which were submitted from all of
the New England states, who will be sending representatives to the
Symposium. UNE (University of New
England) has offered their Westbrook Campus as the location, and Leslie
Ingraham from UNE will be the organizer.
Lynne updated the
Steering Committee regarding the request to the Commission on Safety and Health
in the Maine Workplace for $10,000.
This is a new process for the Commission, which they will be getting in
place, by their next meeting, Wednesday, March 27th. Denise Dumont will be available to represent
the Steering Committee and answer questions of the Commission on the 27th.
The Steering
Committee will be receiving funding updates.
Once funding has been received, the Steering Committee needs to finalize
a timeline.
Safety Conference
- Lynne. Lynne has submitted a proposal for the September
Safety Conference and should have an answer for the Steering Committee in the
next few weeks.
Data System
Priorities - Reports from DEP - Ron.
There has been an increase on toxic reporting due to
EPA. DEP has a data base for 500 Maine
facilities regarding toxic release, use, and waste. DEP is working on a One-Stop Project within a year or two. DEP is currently working on funding for
research on toxic chemical workplace exposure, which will be public information. DEP will be partnering with DHS (Department
of Human Resources), NRC (Natural Resources Council), and BLS (Bureau of Labor
Standards), and MEMA (Maine Emergency Management Association).
Insurance, NCCI,
WCRI - Brad. Brad handed out an Overview of the WCRI and NCCI
showing what information is available, but not necessarily for public use. A license needs to be purchased. All information is copyrighted. Brad also told the Steering Committee that
detailed claims data is also available from NCCI, based upon a 40 percent
sampling rate, which is expected to become 50 percent shortly. The Bureau of Insurance and MEMIC are
subscribers to these two data systems.
Brad will talk with Dan and Steve about ways in which specific data sets
from these systems can be used to help identify Maine priorities for the
Agenda.
John Barry (OSHA).
John was our
guest, sitting in on the MORA meeting to see what MORA is about. He suggested that members go to the website,
www.osha.gov <http://www.osha.gov>
for further information. John, along
with Skip Hoyt (OSHA), will be attending our April 10th
meeting.
Other. Ruth
will present the status of the legislative initiative at the next meeting
scheduled for Wednesday, April 10th. Michael Frett will join us to speak about his vision for MORA.
Respectfully Submitted,
Terry M. Hathaway
Secretary