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ADMINISTRATIVE
COMMITTEE |
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7. |
CONSIDER expenditure of BUDGETED Funds FOR CONFINED SPACES FALL
PROTECTION EQUIPMENT aT the Sleepy Hollow Steelhead Rearing Facility |
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Meeting
Date: |
March 11, 2013 |
Budgeted: |
No |
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From: |
David J.
Stoldt, General
Manager |
Program/ |
Aquatic Resources/Fisheries |
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Line Item No.: |
(2-3-1A) |
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Prepared
By: |
Cynthia
Schmidlin/ |
Cost Estimate: |
Up to $5,000 |
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Cory
Hamilton |
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General Counsel Approval: N/A |
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Committee Recommendation: The Administrative Committee reviewed this item on March 11, 2013 and recommended ______________________. |
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CEQA Compliance:
N/A |
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SUMMARY: The Sleepy Hollow Steelhead Rearing Facility
(SHSRF) has three identified confined spaces, two of which require fall
protection per OSHA rules. Staff annually enter at least two of these confined spaces,
and more if emergency repairs are required. In the past the district used an OSHA-approved
tripod and winch to satisfy the fall protection requirement. In 2006, high flows
in the river eroded away part of the bank that supports the pump gallery (main
pumps for SHSRF). This event has made
the tripod unsafe and ineffective to use for fall protection when entering the
pump gallery to work on the main pumps. The district has been using Lee and
Associates, a confined space rescue team, to bring their equipment for us to
use, so that we are not in OHSA violation when we enter the confined space to
service the pumps. The same company provides our mandated confined space rescue
training. Rates for the confined space
rescue crew are shown in Exhibit 7-A. Cost per weekday, 8am to 5pm for a one man
crew and equipment for an over-24 hour notice is $1,200 ($2,400 for two man
crew). Costs for weekend or holiday use can run over $2,000 per day.
Cost for a hoist device which attaches to a truck hitch and will satisfy
OSHA fall protection rules would not exceed $5,000. Products from several
vendors are now being considered. Use of a device that will attach to a truck
hitch, means that it will be much more versatile in remote conditions, such as
the SHSRF. This is the type of device
that Lee and Associates uses during our training and emergency repair
activities. Purchase of this hoist
device will enable staff to complete the repairs that need to be done in the
confined spaces without the need to hire a confined space rescue crew.
$1,000 of the cost for the hoist device may
be reimbursed to the District by the Special District’s Risk Management
Authority (SDRMA), which provides our property/liability and workers
compensation coverage. Last year the
SDRMA Board of Directors approved a new Loss Prevention Allowance Fund Policy.
The loss prevention allowance fund can be used by members to receive
reimbursement for loss prevention efforts such as:
For 2012-13,
$25,000 was included in budgets for both Property/Liability and Workers'
Compensation Programs. Members can submit a request for reimbursement to SDRMA
for amounts spent on loss prevention efforts during the program year up to a
maximum of $1,000 per year. Requests are
processed on a first-come, first-serve basis until the funds are depleted. Currently,
sufficient funds remain to cover a District request for reimbursement for the
confined spaces fall protection equipment.
IMPACTS TO STAFF/RESOURCES: Cost for a hoist device would not exceed $5,000. The FY 2012-2013 Budget includes $39,000 for SHSRF general operations and maintenance.
RECOMMENDATION: Authorize the General Manager to expend up to $5,000 for purchase of a hoist device that will satisfy OSHA fall protection requirements for permitted confined spaces.
7-A Summary of Current Rates for Lee and
Associates, Rescue Equipment, INC.
U:\staff\Board_Committees\Admin\2013\20130311\07\item7.docx