Health, Safety & Welfare Chair

ARDEM TAJERIAN
E-Mail: tajerian@lapl.org
Phone: (323) 234-9106 (Vernon)

Duties of the Chairperson of the Health, Safety
and Welfare Committee (from Article VII, Section 6
[Executive Board Members-at-Large] of the Librarians'
Guild Constitution)


There shall be elected three executive board members
....one shall be chairperson of the Health and Safety
and Welfare Committees, responsible for presenting the
local union's health and safety concerns to management.

Additional duties and responsibilities may be assigned
by the president with the approval of the executive board.

Health & Safety News, Issues & Announcements


Health & Safety Tips from the February 2004 UPDATE

In the near future, the Business Office should be
sending out a memo concerning “unusual maintenance
requirements.” In the meantime, if any agency finds
human waste, inside or outside your building, do not
attempt to clean it up yourself. Call the Business
Office directly. The Library has a contract with a
company to take care of this and they promise a prompt
response.

Is the interior of your building being painted? Do you
have a history of a bad reaction to fresh paint? If you
do, ask to be temporarily reassigned until the paint
fumes clear.

Use caution when approaching certain people in the
library, especially when you need to ask someone to
leave their computer. If you are dealing with a known
“problem” patron, do not approach the person alone and
do not ever touch them. Keep out of striking range and
if possible, keep a piece of furniture between yourself
and the person. If anyone threatens you, physically or
verbally, get away from him or her. Inform all other
staff members of the situation. Go to the workroom and
call Security or the Police. If the person leaves before
help arrives, call Security the next time that they come
in. Keep a record of what happens.

The Health & Safety Committee meets every other month.
The Committee provides an opportunity to raise issues
with members of the Administration. If you are interested
in attending this meeting either to present an issue or
just to observe the process, please call Lyn Gillson,
Health and Safety Chair, at Atwater Branch, 323/664-7307
or e-mail her at lgillson@lapl.org. The meeting is on
City time and the Guild will reimburse your parking fee
if you are not on mileage.

Are there incidents at your agency or that you have
heard about that you think the rest of the system should
be aware of? Then email the Guild so we can address them.


Notes from 9/18 Health & Safety Committee Meeting

8 new Security officers have been hired. We still have
3 vacancies.

When roving patrol officers visit your branch, make them
aware of any specific situations you want them to check.

General Services will be checking all elevators in
branches. Continue to report problems.

Next meeting will be November 13.


Notes from 7/17 Health & Safety Committee Meeting

At the July 17th meeting of the Health & Safety
Committee, the Committee discussed updating the
Emergency Procedures Manual, elevator maintenance
and repair in libraries throughout LAPL, the hiring
situation of LAPL Security Officers, the status of
the roving patrols, the new emergency kits, problems
with air conditioning in the new branches, and standing
water outside branches which encourages mosquito breeding.

The next meeting is scheduled for Thurs., September 18,
at 9 am in Kris Morita's office on the 4th floor of
Central Library. Those interested in attending the
meetings or letting the Guild know of issues should
call Lyn Gillson, Chair of the Guild's Health and Safety
Committee, at 323-664-7307 or e-mail at lgillson@lapl.org


Note: The web links listed here are for your information
only and do not constitute an endorsement or recommendation
by the Librarians' Guild, AFSCME Local 2626 or by
the Health & Safety Chairperson or Committee.

AFSCME Health & Safety Page

California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH)

Cal/OSHA "Employer Records of Occupational Injury and Illnesses"

California Division of Workers' Compensation

City of Los Angeles Department on Disability

City of Los Angeles Emergency Preparedness Department

City of Los Angeles Safety Announcements & Bulletins

City of Los Angeles Safety Manuals

City of Los Angeles Workers Compensation Injury Data

This database is from the City of L.A. Personnel Department Intranet and
in some cases may only work when using a city computer.

Sexual Harassment in the Workplace Employees Rights & Responsibilities

City of Los Angeles publication in PDF format

Keys to Healthy Computing: an AFSCME Health and Safety Handbook

Safe Jobs Now: An AFSCME Guide to Health and Safety in the Workplace

LAPL Security Incident Bulletin (LAPL Staff Intranet)

UCLA Labor Occupational Safety and Health (UCLA-LOSH) Program