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MEMBERS PRESENT:
Richard Long, Katrina Doolittle, Patty Havstad, Jose Flores,
David Shearer, Jose Gamon, Greg Phillips, Linda Perez, Chris Pennise, Michael Abernethy,
Joseph Fedak, Angela Velasco, and Lou Cabot.
GUESTS: Trina Whitter and George Pearson
The regular Safety Committee Meeting was called to order at 3:35 P.M. by Katrina
Doolittle, Chair. The minutes of the previous meeting were unanimously approved..
NEW BUSINESS:
1. Information on Bicycle Safety.
Trina Writter (Guest) distributed information on bicycle safety. She briefly discussed
this information and stated that Las Cruces holds a big bicycle coalition and they have
proclaimed May as bicycle month. She is asking EH&S to provide an information location
to post tips on bicycle safety that faculty, student and staff can access.
2. Needle stick injury prevention under the Blood-borne pathogen standard.
a. Katrina stated that the Safety Committee or the Biosafety Committee might not
be the right committees to address the issue of needle stick injuries and student
exposures, but she is asking for recommendations or some guidance from this committee.
Katrina stated that Allied Health Program discussed this issue but she would like to
work together and proceed with something that will benefit the campus as a whole.
She stated that the actions regarding non-employee exposures are not standardized
across campus.
b. Katrina informed members that
OSHA requires a Blood Borne Pathogen Exposure
Control Plan be in place for all employees. New requirements for the blood borne
pathogen was posted in November 2000. A couple of new requirements are that as an
employer, NMSU must provide devices that have been engineered to have safety factors build
in and injuries from contamination must be logged.
c. Katrina stated that EH&S provides Blood-borne Pathogen training. This training
is provided free of charge to anyone. She stated that this benefits instructors
because in turn they are able to forward information and/or train students in classrooms.
d. Dr. Jose Flores, MD stated that students are not aware of the dangers of
needle stick injury so they do not follow up with medical care. Many students do not
follow through because the cost is to high. He stated that students sign a flow sheet that
states they do not want treatment.
e. Katrina proposed to add an additional fee for supplemental insurance and
communicable and infectious exposures for these classes. Dr. Jose Flores,
MD asked
how this fee could be implement into course registration.
f. Michael Abernethy stated that he would check on insurance coverage regarding
needle stick injuries.
3. Homeland Security
Lou Cabot informed members that homeland security alert status is at orange and that
the Police Department will answer any questions.
4. Emergency Evacuation
Greg Phillips stated that he has noticed students/individuals walking into a building
that emergency evacuation is in process and that there is nobody to inform them of the
possible danger. Informing the building monitor was a recommendation. Katrina
stated that she would e-mail Darrell Smith from the fire department regarding this issue.
OLD BUSINESS:
.Discussion on lighting at Steward Street crosswalk.
a. Joseph Fedak stated that he noticed there is no light at Steward Street
crosswalk coming from the North, or that if the light is there it does not beam on the
crosswalk. He stated that it is dark and a light needs to shine towards the walkway.
b. Lou Cabot will check on the lighting and have it adjusted.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 4:40 P.M. The
next University Safety Committee Meeting is scheduled September 24, 2003.
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