OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY & ACCIDENT PREVENTION COMMITTEE

BELLINGHAM SCHOOL DISTRICT

MINUTES

November 14, 2006

Members Present:

Denise Suess                 Risk Management/Fiscal Support Coordinator   

Brett Greenwood          Business and Finance Manager, Co-Chair

Steve Olson                  Transportation Manager

Paulette Freeman          Student Services Staff (School Nurse)

Laura Murdzia              Classified Building Secretarial Staff

Nancy Reynolds           Classified Building Secretarial Staff

Dave Adams                 Elementary Principal

Gary McGill                  Custodial Staff

Garry Lewis                  Custodial Staff

Chris Dean                    Building and Grounds Supervisor

Mike Anderson             Building and Grounds Manager

John VanHaalen            Secondary Assistant Principal

Jeanette Herrera            Personnel Manager, Recorder

Members Not Present:

Mary Keim                   Food & Nutrition Services Staff

Karen Neubauer           Special Education Staff

Dick Drost                    Transportation Staff

Teresa Dalton                Paraeducator Staff

Carol Jimeno                 Secondary Teacher

Committee Actions Taken:

1. Appointment of co-chair and secretary

2. Review of purpose of committee

3. 2006-07 meeting times and dates determined

2. Review of new, treated and untreated claims

Appointment of co-chair and secretary

Brett Greenwood and Denise Suess will co-chair the committee.  Jeanette Herrera will be secretary; Nancy Reynolds will take minutes when Jeanette is not in attendance.

Review of Purpose of Committee

The committee’s purpose is to create and maintain a safe and healthy workplace for all employees. The committee reviews and makes recommendations for education and training in safety awareness, safety programs, employee accident reports, safety walk-throughs and inspections, and industrial hygiene programs.

Co-Chair Denise Suess reminded members that participation on the committee is a two-year commitment.  She asked committee members to read the Occupational Safety & Accident Prevention Committee (OSPAC) informational notebook provided to each member.

2006-07 meeting schedule

The OSPAC will meet from 3:15 – 4:30 PM on the second Tuesday of September, November, January, March and May. 

Claims review

The committee reviewed a recap of new accident and injury reports.  Ms. Suess informed the committee that she follows up on accident reports to determine if preventative measures can be taken.

The committee discussed the high number of injuries caused by unpredictable student behavior.  Ms. Suess will contact Deputy Superintendent Susan Zoller to gather information about the district’s response when students have more than one incident causing injury.  SECURE training is provided to employees who work with students with behavior disabilities and does not address sudden unpredictable student behavior.

Items for discussion

The committee reviewed the status of lunchroom table replacement and providing Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs) in high school buildings.  Neither item has received funding authorization.

Next meeting

The Committee will meet again on Tuesday, January 9, 2007, from 3:15 – 4:30 p.m. in the transportation conference room.