MORA Meeting Minutes

February 8, 2012: 10:00 AM

Minutes:

MORA MINUTES February 8, 2012 Members Present: Amy Wagner (Chair), Bill Peabody (Co-Chair), Jonathan Lepoff, Ivan Most (via telephone), John Rioux, Mike Roland, Desi-Rae Severson, Kathy Schulz, & Raymond Taylor MDOL Support Staff Present: Terry Hathaway . Guests: Stephen Corral (Maine Department of Labor) & Carrie Pelletier (Workers’ Compensation Board).

Call to Order. Chair Amy Wagner called the meeting to order at 10:05 a.m.

Introductions: Introductions were made.

Approval of January 11, 20121 Minutes. John Rioux made a motion to accept the January 11th minutes, as amended. Jonathan Lepoff seconded the motion. Vote, unanimous.

Website Update. John stated that Adam Fisher has been working on the .Annual Report on the Status of the Maine Workers’ Compensation Commission (commonly referred to as the “TROIKA” report). He will check with Adam regarding updating MORA’s website.

State Health and Safety Plan Update – Mike Roland. Mike stated that the proposed plan is at the Governor’s office. . Data Collection on Nursing Home/Healthcare Injuries and Other Progress – Kirk Duplessis. As Kirk was unavailable to attend the meeting, there is no update at this time..

Effects of the Aging Workforce on Workplace Injuries and Illnesses – Steve Corral. Steve did a presentation of the Effects of the Aging Workforce on Workplace Injuries and Illnesses. This data was presented on September 22, 2011 at the Health and Safety Conference by the Scott Lawson Group Ltd. (New Hampshire). Steve integrated some of Maine’s data, which came from the Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) survey.

Ivan asked if the presentation was available in a pdf (portable document format) file. Steve will transfer the presentation to a pdf file, which he will send to Terry, who will transmit it to Ivan and other interested MORA members.

The presentation included data (mostly graphs) for the: • projected percentage change in labor force by age, 2006-2016: • percent increase in employment by age and sex, 1977-2007 • labor force participation rate of workers 65 and over, 1948-2007 • workers 65 and over by work schedule, 1977-2007 • growing shortage of U.S. workers (expected labor force and labor force demand) • dramatically different patterns of growth by age • median days away • mean total costs WCB claims • standard deviations total costs WCB claims.

The presentation also included information regarding flexibility, balance, sight, reaction time and speed, hearing, manual dexterity and tactile feedback, oxygen exchange, respiratory system, cardiovascular system, systemic blood pressure, extreme temperatures, shift preferences, training and learning, and disenfranchisement and disengagement. Also included were recommendations.

Ivan added that NORA (National Occupational Research Agenda) Manufacturing Sector has identified workers as an older working population. Ivan will be attending the March NORA Manufacturing Sector meeting via conference call. Ivan asked for Maine Workers’ Compensation claims by age data. John stated that older workers, who are injured at work, fall under Workers’ Compensation rather than Social Security (Medicare).

Ivan also encouraged MORA to contact Pratt & Whitney as they have a presentation regarding the gaining workforce.

Kathy added that there is a webinar entitled I am 64, which is sponsored by Liberty Mutual.

Other. Raymond announced that R&S has a Continuing Education Forum held the first Monday of each month at 10:00 a.m. The first one was a presentation by Steve Corral. Raymond will be doing the second Continuing Education Forum on Monday, March 5th. These forums are open to everyone and last an hour.

At next month’s MORA meeting, the Annual Report on the Status of the Maine Workers’ Compensation System will be the main topic. Each agency involved will do a presentation on their portion of the report: John Rioux, BLS; Paul Sighinolfi, Workers’ Compensation (Kathy will invite him); John will contact the Bureau of Insurance.

Desi-Rae added that the Maine Asthma Coalition meets from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m., prior to the MORA meetings, in Frances Perkins Conference Room A. MORA needs to have time to set up for presentations. A solution will be forthcoming.

Next Meeting – Wednesday, March 14, 2012- 10:00 a.m. The meeting will be held in Frances Perkins Conference Room A, Maine Department of Labor at the Central Maine Commerce Center.

Adjournment. Chair Amy Wagner adjourned the meeting at 11:39 a.m.

/tmh