MORA Meeting Minutes

February 9, 2011:

Minutes:

MORA MINUTES February 9, 2011

Present: Leslie Walleigh, Peter Doran, Kim Lim, Jonathan Lepoff, Mike Roland, Kathleen Schulz, Desi-Rae Severson, Ivan Most (via telephone), and Terry Hathaway,

Guests: Kirk Duplessis and David Grudda, Research & Statistics Unit, Bureau of Labor Standards, Maine Department of Labor; Garret Oswald, Director, Maine Jobs Council, Maine Department of Labor.

Call to Order. Leslie Walleigh called the meeting to order at 10:06 a.m.

Approval of December 8, 2010 Minutes. Peter Doran made a motion to accept the December 8th minutes as written. Jonathan Lepoff seconded the motion. Vote unanimous to approve the minutes.

Announcements. Leslie announced that Bill Peabody retired as Director, Bureau of Labor Standards. He was invited to attend this month’s meeting. Bill had stated that he would like to be appointed to MORA upon his retirement.

Leslie received an e-mail from Steve Minkowsky, Workers’ Compensation Board, thanking MORA for their comments regarding the definition of a day regarding First Report of Injury regarding the proposed Workers’ Compensation Rules.

Ivan joined the meeting via phone and provided a NORA (National Occupational Research Agenda) update. Ivan will be moderating a NORA Manufacturing Conference September 6th and 7th, which will include speakers and workshops regarding special populations.

Leslie stated that she had not heard back from Dr. Lotz, NORA, regarding MORA forming a relationship with NORA. Ivan will check with him and will get back to Leslie.

Maine Jobs Council – Health Care Workers’ Planning Grant – Garret Oswald. Leslie introduced Garret Oswald, Director, Maine Jobs Council, who spoke to MORA regarding the Health Care Workers’ Planning Grant. The Maine Jobs Council is a policy and recommendation Board. Mr. Oswald provided an explanation of the Health Care Workers’ Planning Grant. He handed out a project narrative on Maine’s Health Care Workforce of the Future. The purpose of this project is “to produce a flexible, sustainable, statewide, comprehensive health workforce development ten year plan utilizing a unique strategic planning method to guide the process.” The project proposes the following methodologies: • Analyze State labor market information in order to create health care career pathways for students and adults, including dislocated workers. • Identify current and projected high demand State or regional health care sectors for purposes of planning career pathways. • Identify existing Federal, State, and private resources to recruit, education or train, and retain a skilled health care workforce and strengthen partnerships. • Describe the academic and health care industry skill standards for high school graduation, for entry into postsecondary education, and for various credentials and licensure. • Describe State secondary and postsecondary education and training policies, models or practices for the health care sector, including career information and guidance counseling. • Identify Federal or State policies or rules to developing a coherent and comprehensive health care workforce development strategy and barriers and a plan to resolve these. • Participate in programmatic evaluation and reporting activities.

Mike suggested that the Bureau of Labor Standards could also provide information to Garret’s group. Ivan asked if UNE (University of New England) was at the table and Garret responded that they are. Mike added that the primary purpose of MORA is to advise the Department of Labor. Garret would welcome a MORA member on their group. Garret will provide Mike with the next meeting date. Mike would like a MORA member to attend and explain what MORA is about and also a presentation regarding the details of the SafetyWorks! Info Brief. Leslie is willing to do an initial presentation to Garret’s group. Garret will provide an electronic copy of his handout to Terry, who will send to MORA members, via e-mail.

Follow-up to Identify Potential Players for Health Care Sector Forum. Leslie will check with Dave Wacker about inviting Karen Michaud to a future MORA meeting (either March or April) to speak about the results of the presentations done for the Maine Nursing Home Association.

Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries Presentation – David Grudda. Dave provided a handout, 2009 Occupational Fatality Report. There were 16 workers who died as a result of work-related injuries in 2009. Fifteen of these workers were male and employed in the private sector. Twelve of these deaths occurred after September 1st. Sixty-nine percent (11) of the deaths occurred in Washington and Cumberland counties. The average age of the workers was 42 years old. Nationally for 2009, 4,340 fatalities were reported. Maine’s fatality rate was 2.48 per 100,000 employed; the national rate was 3.08.

David also provided a seven-year trend analysis covering the years, 2003-2009. For the seven-year period, there were 135 work-related fatalities; the average rate was 19 per year.

David also handed out a SafetyWorks! Info Brief, Distracted Driving Campaign Launched.

Next meeting – Wednesday, March 16, 2010. The next meeting will be held Wednesday, March 16, 2011, 10:00 a.m., in a conference room at the Maine Department of Labor, Central Maine Commerce Center, 45 Commerce Drive, Augusta. Please note this is a change from the regular second Wednesday of the month as neither the Chair Leslie Walleigh nor the Vice Chair Amy Wagner will be able to attend March 9th.

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

/tmh