MORA Meeting Minutes
May 12, 2010: 10:00 AM
Minutes:
MORA MINUTES May 12, 2010
Present: Leslie Walleigh, Peter Doran, Jonathan Lepoff, Louise Morang, Mike Roland, Kathy Schulz, Desi-Rae Severson, Amy Wagner, and Terry Hathaway
Call to Order. Leslie Walleigh called the meeting to order at 10:02 a.m.
Introductions: Introductions were made.
Approval of April 14, 2010 Minutes. Peter Doran made a motion to accept the April 14th minutes as amended. Kathy Schulz seconded the motion. Vote was unanimous to approve the minutes, as amended.
Announcements. Louise announced that she will be attending the Human Resources Convention at the Samoset tomorrow. The Convention is sponsored by different companies.
Kathy announced that there will be a third 100 Most Costliest Workers’ Compensation Claims covering 2002 through 2006. The first two studies covered 1994 through 1998 and 1999 through 2003. This will be the first time there will be two overlapping years. This will provide an opportunity to look at what has happened in the subsequent years. Kathy is looking questions prior to looking at the source data to so they can be addressed before the end of this month.
Maine Asthma Council Work Group Update – Leslie Walleigh. Leslie stated that the Work Group is working on materials for employers and employees, including brochures and presentations. Leslie added that the publication, Asthma: A Business Case for Employers and Health Care Purchasers”, noted the burden of asthma in the population impacts employers regarding health care costs and absenteeism.
On June 25th, there is a half-day program in Portland on the Medical Aspects of Asthma. Desi-Rae will draft a brochure for employees, based on other states.
Leslie and Desi-Rae met with Stirling Kendall, Acting Manager for the Asthma Program, about attending a MORA meeting, to discuss the future of the Asthma Program. Stirling told them that the focus for the Asthma Program is the same and there are no changes in the program other than having a new director.
Also, Dave Wacker was invited to attend this month’s MORA meeting, but he is out of town.
MORA Misson. Mike had e-mailed the MORA mission statement from the MORA website to Leslie. Leslie provided a brief history of MORA by saying that MORA was a sounding board for other research. For example, migrant farm workers project (done by Mike Rowland) and the Jackson Lab study on asthma exposures using mice.
Leslie asked the group, “What role should MORA play?” Answers included being a sounding board for research projects in Maine, supporting research projects, taking research to its end and trying to influence activities, impacting public policy, and setting priorities in occupational health and safety based on data. Jonathan added that occupational health should be linked to environmental health. Leslie added that is why MORA wants a SafetyWorks! respresentative.
Desi-Rae added that MORA was modeled after NORA (National Occupational Research Agenda). NORA was originally set up by priorities, but now they are set up by sectors.
Leslie expressed that MORA wanted to clarify their mission to make if seem like we are identifying occupational research priorities and gaps in Maine and to designate someone to fill that gap. Jonathan and Desi-Rae suggested MORA act as an advisory board to the Bureau of Labor Standards and other state public sector agencies. It was clarified that MORA’s vision should be “where we are going” and the mission is “how to get there”. Louise suggested expanding the mission to get to the vision. Currently the mission reads, “To develop occupational safety and health research priorities, and guide their implementation for Maine.”
Mike suggested reviewing the mission and the MORA priorities.
Next meeting – Wednesday, June 16, 2010. The next meeting will be held Wednesday, June 16, 2010, 10:00 a.m., location to be determined.
Dave Wacker will talk about SafetyWorks!
Kathy Schulz made a motion for Terry to e-mail the mission statement and priorities for review prior to the June 16th meeting. Desi-Rae Severson seconded the motion. Vote was unanimous to approve the motion as stated.
Adjournment – Leslie Walleigh. Chair Leslie Walleigh adjourned the meeting at 11:37 a.m.
