MORA Meeting Minutes
March 8, 2006:
Minutes:
MINUTES MORA March 8, 2006
Attending: Jonathan Lepoff, Carol Eckert, Peter Doran, Ginger Jordan-Hillier, Desi-Rae Mason, Ivan Most, Ruth Lawson-Stopps, Kathy Schultz, Leslie Walleigh, Steve Greeley, Leslie Manning, and Terry Hathaway
Guest: Judith Graber, Department of Health and Human Services
Jonathan Lepoff called the meeting to order at 10:05 a.m. in the Bureau of Labor Standards, 3rd floor conference room, Hallowell.
Introductions were made.
Occupational Asthma Presentation:
Desi-Rae introduced Judith Graber, Project Coordinator, Maine Environmental Public Health Tracking Program, Maine Department of Health and Human Services. The title of the presentation was “Estimating the Burden of Injury and Illness at Work Places by Using Administrative Data Sets”. Using information from workers’ compensation claims, Department of Labor, OSHA, Maine Health Data Organization, and Office of Data, Research, and Vital Statistics, Ms. Graber explained how the data sets are used. The information was from a four-year period regarding carbon monoxide poisoning, asthma, and pesticide poisoning. Schools were not included. Discussion followed.
Minutes:
A motion was made by Peter Doran to approve the minutes of February 8, 2006. The motion was seconded by Leslie Walleigh. Vote, unanimous.
Committee Meetings:
Finance Committee. No report.
Program Committee: Desi-Rae reported that the Program Committee had updates on three priority areas: occupational asthma, cost drivers, and pesiticides. She reported, as a result of a CDC on-site visit from NIOSH and ALAM, there is a project which will study asthma in the school setting in the State of Maine. She suggested the Norm Anderson be contacted to do a brief presentation to MORA. The CDC wants a newsletter from the Maine Asthma Council.
Regarding cost drivers, Desi-Rae stated that Phase II of the lump sum settlement project, which is sending out 500 surveys. The survey is a 2 page, duplex document and takes ten minutes to fill out. The surveys were sent to attorneys and advocates. There should be some results by summer. Ivan will be doing a poster presentation at the NORA Conference.
Desi-Rae also told the group that there is a public petition to ban aerial spraying of pesticides.
A subcommittee, consisting of Jonathan, Carol, and Leslie Manning, was formed for the purpose of developing procedures for awarding grants.
Nora Town Meeting Presentation.
Peter and Ivan will each be doing a five-minute presentation at the NORA Town Meeting to be held on Monday, March 20, 2006. They will be making a case for occupational safety and health research agendas. Ongoing “grass roots” research is necessary to access small businesses and MORA can provide the access. Peter is sending Ann Backus a packet of information.
PDAG Update:
Leslie Walleigh said that PDAG had its last meeting on February 15th. The Data Subgroup continued discussion of electronic reporting of Workers’ Compensation Reports. John Rioux, along with Ann Beaulieu, met with the Workers’ Compensation Board. There is interest in changing the M-1 Form, which doctors fill out; however, the work group decided not to focus on that.
The Prevention Subgroup developed the content for a survey of employers regarding safety programs and how they use data. A draft of the survey is to be submitted at the next meeting of the Work Group.
The Work Group discussed their plan for the year to prepare for the next annual report.
The Work Group will be meeting on Wednesday, March 22nd as several members will be attending the Maine Indoor Air Quality Conference on Wednesday, March 15th.
Other:
Ginger announced that the Governor had signed an Executive Order “Promoting Safer Chemicals in Consumer Products and Services”. Included in the Executive Order, is that the State Bureau of General Services (BGS) will work with the Board of Pesticides Control (BPC), regarding state-owned buildings for IPM (Integrated Pest Management Training).
The next meeting is scheduled for April 12th.
Adjournment:
The meeting was adjourned at 12:11 PM.
/tmh
