Minutes

University of Washington, Tacoma

Health and Safety Committee

Meeting of Sept. 19, 2002

Committee chair Lia Wetzstein called the meeting to order.

Minutes from August 8 were e-mailed on August 9 for review by those who attended the meeting. The reviewers made no changes, and the minutes have been forwarded for posting to the Web.

Fire drill

A fire drill was held in the Science and Dougan buildings earlier in the day Sept. 19. Exit was complete in under 4 minutes. People occupying campus buildings should be reminded to close all doors behind them as they leave buildings. More drills should be expected. Not all employees are yet aware of the name/location for Cragle Parking Lot (south of the library). Supervisors should be sure their employees know to gather at this site whenever a building is evacuated.

Construction safety

Lease Crutcher Lewis, UWT’s general contractor for the Phase 2 b project, is not allowing visitors to the construction site at this time, but anyone interested in touring it in the future can go to the construction office (on Pacific Avenue between the Harmon and Subway) and sign up to do so. Foot traffic and vehicle traffic around the construction on the south end of the campus will continue to be re-routed frequently to ensure the safety of everyone working, walking and driving in this area. Supervisors should encourage their employees to be cautious and pay attention to signs.

Accident/incident reports

Committee members reviewed two accident/incident reports. The forms were completed correctly and appropriate action was taken by supervisors to prevent similar incidents in the future. No further committee action was necessary.

Web site

Discussion was held about how to:

* Get the Emergency Procedures Guide better visibility on UWT’s Web site

* Make sure new employees are aware of the safety site on the Web

* Publicize more that the list of floor wardens is updated on the Web.

Training

A class on lifting and back safety was held Sept. 5. Training on how to comply with the state’s new ergonomics requirements is being scheduled for mid-October. Training will educate attendees about the new state regulations and how to comply with them. A representative from Washington’s department of Labor and Industries will teach the class with someone from the UW’s department of Environmental Health and Safety.

New business

A consulting firm has prepared a “Vulnerabilities Document and Hazardous Management Plan” for UWS. Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration Sandy Boyle has asked the UWT Health and Safety Committee to oversee production of a similar document for UWT. It was agreed that Security, Facilities and Administration should be represented on the sub-committee that prepares this plan. UWT can use the UWS plan as a template.

Old business

Following up on an agenda item from last month, further discussion was held about identification for contractors working on campus. Who would be responsible for issuing such identification and how it would be administered was in question.

Attendees: