MORA Meeting Minutes

October 10, 2007:

Minutes:

MINUTES MORA October 10, 2007

Attending: Carol Eckert, Kathy Schulz, Mike Rowland, Kim Lim, Leslie Walleigh, Leslie Manning, Peter Doran, Ginger Jordan-Hillier, Jonathan Lepoff, Desi-Rae Severson, Ted Bradstreet, and Terry Hathaway

Guest: Steve Laundrie

Call to Order. Carol Eckert called the meeting to order at 10:05 a.m. in the Frances Perkins Conference Room A, Central Maine Commerce Center.

Approval of September 12, 2007 Minutes. Kathy Schulz made a motion to accept the September 12, 2007 minutes as written. Jonathan Lepoff seconded the motion. Vote, unanimous.

PDAG Update – Leslie Walleigh. Leslie summarized the September 26th PDAG meeting. Al May did a presentation on the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). PDAG plans to have a draft of the report to the legislature at their October meeting; the report will include recommendations from the Small Business Needs Assessment Survey and the Workers’ Compensation/Bureau of Labor Standards group. The Maine Center for Disease Control (CDC) is working with the Maine Department of Labor to seek funding from the SETF (State Education Training Fund) for the Occupational Disease Reporting program. The funding would be used to expand the program; currently, a study has been done on carbon monoxide poisoning. Discussion followed.

The study of the Maine Health Data Organization is ongoing to make usable date for occupational injuries and illnesses. Carol suggested talking about getting disease data as a future agenda item, perhaps with the Maine Health Data Organization. Discussion followed. Terry will e-mail MORA members the link to the Maine Health Data Organization.

Maine Center for Disease Control (ME-CDC) Projects – Leslie Walleigh. Leslie updated MORA on the lead poisoning project. Hopefully, this would lead to outreach and education to prevent lead poisoning. Lead poisoning is reporting under the ME-CDC.

Also, the ME-CDC is participating in the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), which will start in January 2008.

Carbon monoxide poisoning is reportable under the ME-CDC starting January 1, 2008.

Migrant Farmworker Project Update – Peter Doran and Mike Rowland. Peter announced that the Maine Health Access Foundation rejected the $10,000 grant to support the photographic and recording work on the migrant farmworker project. Both Mike and Peter could make this work with $5,000 and are seeking MORA’s counsel regarding this. The Harvard School of Public Health is supporting this project which was to be unveiled in November of this year, but has been put “on hold” until April 2008. Peter will be meeting with Senator Beth Edmunds today at 12:30 regarding the exhibit in the Hall of Flags in January.

Peter asked if MORA would consider some financial support towards what is needed to stay on track with this project. MORA has limited funds for small research projects; it would take a while to get the money. Primarily, money is needed to cover Earl Dotter’s costs. Leslie Manning suggested they contact Congressman Michaud’s office to check the U.S. Department of Agriculture regarding cultural related projects in rural areas. The group discussed finding “free” space, such as community centers, hospitals, etc. Also, it was suggested that the Arts Commission be contacted on who to approached.

Other & Announcments. Leslie Manning talked about the Workers’ Compensation Coordinating Council Annual Meeting/Seminar on November 8, 2007. Leslie will be attending on behalf of the Maine Department of Labor, but would like someone to represent MORA. She suggested Ruth Lawson-Stopps, even though Ruth was not present at today’s meeting.

Leslie also announced that EISA (Expedited Informal Settlement Agreement) letters are going out from OSHA to selected manufacturers who have unacceptable high rates. The letter will encourage them to contact the Maine Department of Labor’s SafetyWorks! for a consultation. The manufacturers will receive a 50 percent reduction in fines if they voluntarily enroll in the program. SafetyWorks! will follow-up within a three-year period.

Steve Laundrie announced that the 2006 OSHA national incidence rates will be available October 16 on the web. If anyone would like information on Maine incidence rates or has any questions, then call Steve.

Carol said that she will talk to Ruth regarding the Jackson Lab Conference.

Next Meeting – Wednesday, November 14, 2007. The next MORA meeting will be held on Wednesday, November 14, 2007, 10:00 a.m. to Noon, Frances Perkins Conference Room A, Central Maine Commerce Center.

Adjournment. Carol Eckert adjourned the meeting at 11:45 a.m.

/tmh