MORA Meeting Minutes

November 10, 2010:

Minutes:

MORA MINUTES November 10, 2010

Present: Leslie Walleigh, Peter Doran, Kirk Duplessis, Jonathan Lepoff, Kim Lim, Ivan Most (via telephone), Mike Roland, Desi-Rae Severson, Amy Wagner, Barry Williams, Terry Hathaway, and Dave Wacker

Guest: David Grudda, Research & Statistics Unit, Technical Services Division, Bureau of Labor Standards

Call to Order. Leslie Walleigh called the meeting to order at 10:02 a.m.

Introductions: Introductions were made.

Approval of October 20, 2010 Minutes. Peter Doran made a motion to accept the October 20th minutes as written. Jonathan Lepoff seconded the motion. Vote unanimous to approve the minutes.

Announcements. Peter announced that the Maine Indoor Air Quality Council planning committee is setting up the agenda for the keynote speaker and workshops for the annual conference in March. There are opportunities for proposals, workshops, and workshops. He will keep MORA updated. Ivan added that there will be an announcement sometime this month about the upcoming conference.

Peter added that the November issue of the American Journal of Public Health has a very important article concerning The Impact of Massachusetts’ Smoke-Free Workplace Laws on Acute Myocardial Infarction Deaths by Doug Dockery of the Harvard School of Public Health. Leslie added that the Kennebec Journal had a business insert with an article regarding Worksite Wellness.

NORA Update – Ivan Most (via telephone). Ivan did a presentation, NORA2, the Second Decade of the National Occupational Agenda. He wrote the presentation along with Ted Braun, Industry Director, Manufacturing, Liberty Mutual Research Institute. Ivan will also be presenting this to the Workers’ Compensation Research Group in Hopkinton, Massachusetts, next week. A handout of the presentation was given to MORA. NORA’s vision is as follows: “A national partnership effort to define and conduct priority research”. Their approach is to seek stakeholder input, identify research priorities for the nation, work together to address priorities, and leverage funds to support research in priority areas. Ivan told of NORA’s successes in the first decade, which were: created national research agenda with broad input and strong support, identified 21 priority areas, leveraged resources for priority research, stimulated research in priority areas, created dynamic public-private partnerships, sparked a coordinated federal effort, and created a new culture.

For the second decade, NORA went from 21 priority areas to NORA Sector Councils. They are: Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishing; Construction; Healthcare and Social Assistance; Manufacturing; Mining; Oil and Gas Extraction; Services; Public Safety; Transportation, Warehousing, and Utilities: and Wholesale and Retail Trade. Ivan is on the Manufacturing Sector Council. Their strategic goals are: reduce the number of injuries and fatalities due to contact with objects and equipment; reduce the number of injuries and fatalities resulting from falls among workers in the manufacturing sector; reduce the number and severity of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) among manufacturing workers; reduce the incident of occupational-induced hearing loss in the manufacturing sector; reduce the number of respiratory conditions and diseases due to exposures in the manufacturing sector; reduce the incidence and prevalence of cancer due to exposures in the manufacturing sector; reduce the incident of injuries, illnesses, and fatalities among understudied and vulnerable populations in the manufacturing sector (such as contract workers, younger and older workers, immigrants and pregnant and nursing workers); reduce the incident of injuries, illnesses, and fatalities within small businesses and specific sub-sectors within the manufacturing sector; enhance the state of knowledge related to emerging risks to occupational safety and health in manufacturing; and reduce the number of catastrophic incidents (such as explosions or structural failures in the manufacturing sector). In the fall, the Manufacturing Sector will be hosting a conference.

Leslie asked what it would mean for MORA to partner with NORA. Ivan responded that it would be a way of getting funded projects from NIOSH (National Institute of Occupational Health), not necessarily in manufacturing. Ivan suggested a letter to Greg Lotz, NIOSH, to create a formalized partnership. Ivan will provide the necessary information to Leslie prior to next month’s MORA meeting for further discussion.

Health Care Sector Research Update with Presentation on “Safe Patient Handling” – Leslie Walleigh. This presentation is follow-up to Kirk’s presentation at last month’s meeting where there was discussion concerning notification of someone in State government regarding injuries in the health care sector. Kim had been asked to come up with more information. Leslie said she would provide information on a national level regarding MSD’s. Leslie had two handouts, Guidelines for Nursing Homes: Ergonomics for the Prevention of Musculoskeletal Disorders and Safe Patient Handling Training for Schools of Nursing.

Kirk, Kim, and Dave Grudda provided the following hand-outs: Maine Occupational Injuries and Illnesses Report for Nursing and Residential Care Facilities, Incidence rates of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses by industry and case types (specifically, nursing and residential care facilities), Prescribed Curriculum of Nursing Assistant Training Programs, and OSHA Trade News Release, where OSHA is targeting nursing and personal care facilities. Dave worked with Kathy Schulz regarding cost.

Leslie pointed out that safe patient handling is not just a problem in Maine, but nationally. The nursing employees are at a high risk for MSDs despite mechanics and proper lifting techniques. The most physically demanding tasks are transfers to and from the bed, toilet, bathing, and repositioning. Commonly used strategies are equipment, professional education and training, and risk assessments. Identification of problems includes the level of assistance required due to resident size and their ability and willingness to understand their medical conditions.

Leslie added that nine states have enacted safe patient handling legislation. Maine has 70 CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) training programs, 13 RN (Registered Nurses) training programs, 43 hospitals, and many nursing homes. Kirk asked if there is any data on these states. Leslie responded that there probably was, but she does not have access to it.

Dave added that everybody should have all information. Kim said that includes costs and data. He also added that Brian Sullivan should return to MORA. Mike suggested that OSHA should be at the next MORA meeting. Leslie added that there should be collaboration between SafetyWorks! and OSHA.

Mike added that in order to reach more people there needs to be a broader forum for outreach. Amy added that in April, there is a Conference on health care, which will have break-out sessions. Mike proposed that SafetyWorks! have a booth there so that they can reach out to other organizations.

As a follow-up to the discussion of sharing health care sector information with State agencies, Mike e-mailed Trish Riley, but has not gotten a reply from her. Leslie suggested that MORA find out what Dave (Wacker) is doing. Dave (Wacker stated that there are two training sessions for health care facilities scheduled for the 2011 SafetyWorks! Training calendar. The plan is to have Kim or Kirk do an overview of the problems and having “champions” from the SHARP (Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program) to show what they are doing and how they have solved the problems. Kim, Kirk, and Dave Wacker have been discussing a one-day seminar be held in Florian Hall to talk about the problems, solutions, and get the experts in and have a one-day seminar on healthcare. Dave added that as nursing homes are on the National Emphasis program under Federal OSHA, we can obtain more information and assistance from them. He suggested that they should join forces with the Department of Health and Human Services regarding licensure to help each other out. Leslie suggested that all the players be identified and get them all on the same page before doing a forum and that MORA should take a formal role in this. Mike suggested that we should get a list of entities and their contacts, and invite them to our next MORA meeting before proceeding. Dave suggested that there are a couple of large nursing home associations, the Department of Health and Human Services (inspection folks), the Research & Statistics Division, SafetyWorks! and the Department of Education (including institutes of higher learning). Leslie asked what they would be told. Dave suggested sitting down with them and go through the program and show them where the problems are and what needs to be corrected. Dave added that there is a high rate of turnover with CNAs (Certified Nursing Assistants) due to injuries. Also, patient education should be included. As a result of this discussion, Leslie, Mike, Dave Wacker, and Amy Wagner will meet to make a list for the next meeting.

Workers’ Compensation Proposed Rules Update – Leslie Walleigh. Leslie thanked Jonathan Lepoff for testifying at the Workers’ Compensation proposed rules hearing. A copy of the final letter was handed out at the meeting.

Other. Leslie said that as the Chair of MORA is for two years, her term is up in January and that usually the Vice-Chair takes over as Chair. As Linda Huff was Vice Chair, but is no longer a part of MORA, the group needs to address the issue of Chair and Vice Chair. Originally, the rules were that the chair should be someone who is not a state employee and serve for a two-year term. Tabled to the December meeting.

Leslie asked Mike to find out where the State Safety Committee, which was created by Executive Order, stands legally.

Next meeting – Wednesday, December 9, 2010. The next meeting will be held Wednesday, December 9, 2010, 10:00 a.m., Frances Perkins Conference Room, Maine Department of Labor, Central Maine Commerce Center, 45 Commerce Drive, Augusta.

Adjournment – Leslie Walleigh. Chair Leslie Walleigh adjourned the meeting at 11:54 a.m.

/tmh