Minutes of Employee Safety Committee Meeting on 11/30/01

Harvey Mudd College Employee Safety Committee
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Minutes from Meeting on November 30, 2001

In Attendance:

Annie Atiyeh (Physics - annie_atiyeh@hmc.edu)
Kimberly Rogers (Human Resources - kimberly_rogers@hmc.edu)
Lillian McCollum (Chemistry - lillian_mccollum@hmc.edu)
Hal Van Ryswyk (Prof. of Chemistry and CHO - hal_vanryswyk@hmc.edu)
Elaine Guerra (Biology - elaine_guerra@hmc.edu)
Theresa Potter (Facilities and Maintenance - theresa_potter@hmc.edu)
Tony Pennington (EH&S Manager - tonyp@cuc.claremont.edu)
Mike Wheeler (Machine Shop - mike_wheeler@hmc.edu)


Agenda Items:

1)  POST 9/11 SAFETY ISSUES
    Tony has acquired a video on "Mailroom Anthrax."  Related information
    is also available on the CUC website.

    New regulations under the "USA Patriot Act" are also available on the
    CUC website.

    The Committee discussed numerous resourses that have been made available
    to the HMC Community since the 9/11 disaster.  Tony mentioned that one
    major concern is that HMC has an open campus.
    

2)  WORK STATION ERGONOMIC EVALUATION
    Tony said that there are 3 steps involved in the ergonomic evaluation
    of a workstation.  The first step concerns the employee's own self-
    evaluation.  This is followed by the supervisor's evaluation.  Tony 
    will then negotiate any necessary work station changes, taking into 
    consideration the implied costs.          
    
  
3)  GREEN SHEET SAFETY TIPS
    The committee discussed including safety tips in the weekly HMC Green
    Sheet publication.  Suggestions should be e-mailed to Annie.  
    

4)  NEEDLE DISPOSAL
    Concern about needle disposal has been expressed to several members of 
    the Committee.  Tony said that needles must be disposed of as class-2
    medical waste.  Since the disposal of this class of waste is relatively
    expensive, Tony suggested that care be given to make sure that only
    needles (not syringes) are placed in the "sharps disposal receptacles."

    Tony will supply Annie with information on needle disposal and class-2
    medical waste.


5)  CHEMICAL HYGIENE PLAN
    Hal said that the development of a Chemical Hygiene Plan for the College
    would involve getting the plan to the Committee, the Committee review of
    the plan, and the final formulation.  Work is progressing.  


6)  OPEN DISCUSSION
    A.  Hal Van Ryswyk, HMC Chemical Hygiene Officer, advised the 
        Committee that the College would be within regulatory 
        compliance even if SCBA respirators are not utilized.  
        Relative to the nature and conditions under which research
        is conducted here at the College, SCBA respirator units are
        not required.
          
    B.  A safety platform is needed for storage of chemicals on the 
        Libra loading dock.  Lillian will seek information on what 
        type of platform will be best.

    C.  Theresa mentioned that, because of environmental/energy concerns,
        Halon fire extinguishers are no longer used.   


7) Next meeting will be:  Friday, January 25, 2002, at 11:00am in
   the Stauffer Lounge.




A computer record and a hard copy of this report will be kept in 
Lillian McCollum's office (2310 Jacobs).
  
If you would like a hard copy, send your request to Annie Atiyeh 
at annie_atiyeh@hmc.edu