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r � � RESPIRATORY EOUIPMENT: SPIROMETER The Board reviewed the following memo dated January 6, 1993: TO: James Chandler, County Administrator THRU: Jadc Prig, Personnel Director . FROM: Beth Jordan, Risk Managek-*00" DATE: 6 January 1993 SUBJECT: Respiratory Equipment; Spirometer Staff requests Board consideration of to purchase of a spirometer at a cost not to a waw $5,wo oo to comply with State of Florida, Department of Labor and Employment Security (DLES) regulations, Background On October 19, 1992 Christine Layne, Safely Specalisz, Division of Safety, DLES, Inspected the Iaruilili and cited the County for violation of an Occupational. Safety and Health Admtnstration (OSHA) requirement, which was to be effective at the end of December, 1992, requiring mewl monitoring of employees who use respirators on the job. For some time, public entities had been a mpt from such monitoring while the private sector had to comply. With the December ntie change, public entitles were brought under OSHA regulations. Staff requested and was granted a 90 -day compliance exWrmk n, with the new compliance date as March 4, 1993. While the County has a formal, written respirator training program with annual UWnfng for employees► there has been no medical monitoring. Under the newly imposed regulations, employees wm complete a written health history questionnaire. In addition, staff recommends that a spirarheter be purchased and three (3) paramedics trained to measure pulmonary fu ncUan (hung capacity) of the appro:drrnately 395 employees who may have a need to use respirators, The questionnaire and measurement will be part of the annual training program, It a corhtrafnd icated medical condition is reported on the questionnaire or I the spirometric test results are outside expected parameters, the employee's results will be reviewed by Roger Nicosia, M.D., Emergency Services medical corsukanL and a recommendatiat willbe made by him. If a potential health condition is Indicated, the employee will be referred to hW her attending physician for follow-up. Currently, there are approxinhately 100 Public Works, 100 Utilities Services, 160 Emergency Services, 5 Building and Grounds, and 30 Goff employees who at least occasionally use respirators. While we may be -able to re-engineer son's jobs to negate the need far respirators, there will remain a considerable number who will have an ongoing need for them Recommendation Staff expknred with Doctas' Com, current workers' oompermation provider, the feasibility of perfomNng this mhonitor V*W found costs to beapp $MW per employee annually. With the purchase of a meter at a cost not to s eed $5,000.00 we can accomplish the required monitoring at the lew cost for the County while provIdit health protection to employees. Because of its use by numerous departments, staff recommends purchase from the Fisk Management budget. ON MOTION by Commissioner Macht, SECONDED by Commissioner Eggert, the Board unanimously authorized the purchase of a spirometer at a not -to - exceed cost of $5,000, as recommended by staff. C -M L_ JAN 121993 8.0K 88 PAGF541