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MEMBERS PRESENT: Katrina Doolittle, David Shearer, Jaime
Chavez, Jaime Marrujo, Angela Velasco, Chris Pennise, Jose Gamon, Greg Block,
and Richard Long
The regular Safety Committee Meeting was
called to order at 3:35 P.M. by Katrina Doolittle, Chair. Minutes from February
22, 2006 were unanimously approved.
OLD BUSINESS:
1. Update on Smoking Policy
a. Katrina Doolittle stated that
Administrative Council accepted the Smoking Policy on May 9, 2006 and is now in
effect. David Shearer stated that the Policy can be found on the Environmental
Health & Safety Web site.
b. Katrina read some suggestions that were
incorporated into the smoking policy; stating that if there is a conflict in
determining reasonable distance or location EH&S will assist.
c. Jaime Chavez asked what was being done in
regards to Pan Am Center events & smoking area just outside building. Katrina
referred to Section B of the smoking policy reading that "unless it is a
specifically designated smoking area".
d. David has submitted work orders to Office
of Facilities & Services for smoking receptacles to be moved and EH&S is waiting
for Planning and Construction to finalize signage policy before window decals
can be printed for all buildings.
2. Pets on Campus
a. Katrina stated that all pets should be on
a leash and that service dogs are the only ones allowed in buildings. She stated
that for sanitary and health reasons dogs are not allowed in public posted
areas.
b. David Shearer asked if Police are allowed
to issue citations for dogs not on a leash or dogs that are in unallowable
posted public places. Jaime Chavez stated that in enforcing the no leash law and
issuing a citation they have to refer to the county ordinance public nuisance
law that states; "if you're creating an environment or action that another
individual cannot enjoy public property then you are creating a public
nuisance". Jaime Chavez stated that if dogs are seen on NMSU campus in posted
public areas they should be reported to a supervisor and if they don't abide by
the posted instructions, then report to Human Resources stating that Police
should be the last alternative.
3. Building Monitor Training
a. Katrina asked David Shearer for his help in setting up training for building
monitors and contact Rich MacRorie from Office of Facilities & Services (OFS)
for assistance. She stated that the training should be open to anyone, but the
focus should be on the building monitors getting information and formalizing
responsibilities. She stated that not all building monitors have the same duties
throughout campus.
4. Emergency Planning Efforts (Katrina Doolittle)
a. Currently they are working on two planning efforts on campus. The first
effort involves Katrina Doolittle, Environmental Health & Safety, Darrell Smith,
Fire Department, and Jaime Chavez, Police Department in developing Overarching
Emergency Plan. They are reviewing the emergency responses that the campus has
had in the recent past. The group is trying to establish crisis managements
processes, organizational roles, and consequence management that occur in
response to a large incident. The main focus is on developing plans that will be
shared throughout campus. The group will be kept small until they have something
drafted. Part of the goal is to encompass volunteers from campus so that they
can have a much larger group of trained resource personnel and be able to go
state wide in these planning efforts.
b. Second area of planning is for Communicable Disease Preparedness. Katrina
stated that this is in response to the national pandemic preparedness guidelines
released in 2006. Katrina received a letter from the Secretary of Education
addressed to President Martin that states that Universities are a small special
center of community life and are at a higher risk of contracting communicable
diseases. The Communicable Disease Planning Committee that will be working on
planning consists of Auxiliary Operations, Campus Dining Services, Housing,
Student & Employee Health Centers, Department of Fire & Emergency Services,
Environmental Health & Safety, Police, Facilities Operations, Information &
Technology Services, University Communication & Marketing Services,
International Programs, Office of the Provost, Office of Vice Provost for
Research & Graduate Studies, Human Resources, Purchasing & Risk Management,
College of Health & Social Services, School of Nursing, New Mexico Department of
Agriculture, Student Services, DACC Health & Public Services and Human &
Physical Resources. If it is a large epidemic or pandemic it will affect most if
not all areas.
c. Angela Velasco asked what role Human Resources will play in these plans.
Katrina stated that one of the big tasks will be establishing policy for
international travel, telecommuting (working from home) and social distancing.
5. Bicycles, Skateboards and Small Motorized Vehicles on Sidewalks
a. Jaime Chavez stated that there is a shared use of sidewalks. Skateboards are
allowed if they are being used for convenience but not for performing
acrobats/tricks. He stated that the shared use is working well and that they are
continuing to promote it. He stated that they have not had severe collisions
within the last 10 years with the shared use on sidewalks, further stating that
it is unfortunate that there are no safe bike paths on campus or in the Dona Ana
County.
b. Jaime Marrujo asked what was done to bicycles left abandoned. Jaime
Chavez
stated that they are taken by Police department and after trying to find
ownership and storing them for a period of time they are auctioned.
c. It was asked if there was a written statement, policy or guidelines regarding
the shared use of sidewalks. Jaime Chavez stated that a memo was distributed to
this effect.
d. Jaime Chavez stated that they allow motorized vehicles that operate at less
than 150 CC to travel on sidewalks.
e. Vehicular traffic was identified as a more serious hazard for shared use of
sidewalks. Individuals allowed to operate NMSU vehicles may abuse the privilege
of being able to park on the International Mall for maintenance or for attending
meetings, cashing checks, purchase of a meal, etc....., therefore the Police
Department is fighting this on the International Mall Jaime Chavez stated.
Katrina stated that this appeared to be more a safety concern and asked what
should be done in regards to the abuse of vehicles on the international mall.
The committee suggested a memo be sent to V.P. Ben Woods stating that the Safety
Committee has concluded that there is a potential pedestrian hazard in vehicular
shared use of the International Mall and that the amount of abuse for personal
business should be reduced.
Suggestion; supervisors should take a more active
role in limiting misuse, possibly through the use of a placarding system which
shows that the vehicle has a legitimate business at that location, positioning
parking barriers at strategic locations and limit UPS, FedEx, DHL, vendor
delivery trucks to roadway prohibiting them from using the International Mall.
Richard Long made a motion to send VP Ben Woods a memo stating the Safety
Committees concerns related to the International Mall, with recommendations.
David Shearer seconded the motion, which was passed unanimously.
NEW BUSINESS:
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 4:55 P.M.
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