2001-907-Minutes for Meeting December 10,2001 Recorded 12/20/2001DESCHUTES COUNTY OFFICIAL RECORDS yd 2001,907
ESC MARY SUE PENHOLLOW , COUNTY CLERK Vd rl
V�Q< COMMISSIONERS' JOURNAL 12/20/200103:07:00 PM
11 ;00'11111'� Board of Commissioners
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1130 N.W. Harriman St., Bend, Oregon 97701-1947
t", ',• (541) 388-6570 - Fax (541) 388-4752
www.deschutes.org
Tom De Wolf
EXCERPT OF MINUTES Dennis R. Luke
Mike Daly
ADMINISTRATIVE LIAISION
MONDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2001
Present were Commissioners Tom DeWolf and Michael M. Daly; Commissioner
'Dennis R. Luke was unable to attend. Also present were County Administrator
Michael A. Maier; Rick Isham and Mark Amberg, Legal Counsel; Mike Viegas,
Risk Management; Renee Warner and Tad Walker, Building Services; Alison
Hamway, Union Representative; and Dave Duncan, Mental Health Department.
The group discussed staff recommendations relating to injuries apparently being
caused by the use of the fire doors at the County's Human Services Building.
Mike Maier stated that he met with Mike Skeels of the Bend Fire Department and
Bill Hunt of the City Building Department regarding the fire code and the
building's fire doors. There have been claims of injuries due to the doors, which
require a closing device, per fire code.
He said Renee was looking at different hardware, and different options are being
discussed. Some of these options are:
1. Staff training
2. Hardware to deactivate a device unless the system is on
3. Automatic door operators
4. A certificate from the fire engineer, granting an exception
5. Remodeling - moving the exam rooms
6. Using the exam rooms on the WIC side for clinical exams
7. Temporary, permanent reassignment of staff
He indicated that cost has been discussed, and mandatory staff training is
recommended. Free -swinging doors, activated by the fire system, are being
examined.
Excerpt of Minutes Page 1 of 3 Pages
Monday, December 10, 2001 Administrative Liaison
Quality Services Performed with Pride
Mike Viegas stated that he is concerned about the repetition during use; he'd like to
install one of the new doors now and try it out.
Commissioner Daly asked if there is evidence of injuries. Mike Viegas explained
that there is doctor support of the employees' claims, and there is one full-blown
workers' compensation claim. All that is required is that 51% of an injury be
attributed to work.
Mike Maier further stated that there have been six to eight claims filed. Alison
Hamway said that two employees have filed a grievance at this point.
Mike Viegas stated that this is covering new grounds; no one is familiar with any
similar cases anywhere with these types of fire doors.
Alison asked if one replacement door would be adequate, since it depends on who
uses what door and how often. Tom DeWolf replied that he believes they are
assigned to rooms. Mike Maier explained that the recommendation is to try out one
new door, and reassign people as needed, since the doors cost about $1,000 each.
Commissioner DeWolf asked if one case could cost $20,000 or more; Mike Viegas
said it could run in the $25,000 range. Commissioner DeWolf then asked if the
nearby hospital and clinic have fire corridors; Rick Isham replied that the hospital
has closures off the hallways. Renee Warner stated that the hospital has the same
kind of doors.
Commissioner DeWolf indicated that obviously the building was not perfectly
planned; Mark Amberg said that this problem was not anticipated. Commissioner
DeWolf said that he could see this as a big issue, and would like to try one new
door for a while. Even if all the doors had to be replaced, $12,000 is much cheaper
than ongoing injuries.
Commissioner Daly said he would like more information from the doctors. He
said his doctor's office has the same type of doors, and he questions these claims.
Alison Hamway stated that a workers' comp claim has already been accepted, with
an independent medical evaluation. This has been going on for some time.
Mike Viegas said that there's been one shoulder injury on the WIC side; Mark
Amberg explained that they got a WIC grant for their automatic doors. He further
explained that even if the County makes it a non -workers' comp issue, if a doctor
says there's a problem, it becomes an ADA issue; and there is a duty to
accommodate.
Excerpt of Minutes Page 2 of 3 Pages
Monday, December 10, 2001 Administrative Liaison
Mike Maier asked how long it would take to replace a door; Tad Walker replied
approximately 30 to 60 days, depending on the supplier. The doors range from
$700 to $1,000 each, and an ADA approved lever must be installed.
Commissioner Daly expressed concern about whether the claims are actually
work-related. Commissioner DeWolf explained that one of the injured persons is a
ten-year employee with no previous claims. He recommended that one door be
put in place as soon as possible.
Mike Viegas said that the County needs to show some progress on this issue. He
recommended assigning the most injured to that new door.
Commissioner Daly asked if there were any further recommendations from the
union. Alison Hamway replied that just fixing it would help; it's a positive step.
They've already reassigned one employee.
Commissioner DeWolf told the Building Services staff to proceed with the
purchasing and installation of one door; Commissioner Daly seconded that
recommendation.
- End of Excerpt -
pt, C_ �
DATED this Stn Day of ve-m-h-e- 2001 for the Deschutes County Board of
Commissioners.
ATTEST:
Recording Secretary
Tom eWolf, Chair
Dennis R. Luke, Commissioner
Michael M. Daly,
Excerpt of Minutes Page 3 of 3 gages
Monday, December 10, 2001 Administrative Liaison