Board of Health

November 19, 2015 An organizational meeting was held at 5:00 p.m. Present were: Ian Murray, Chairman; John Bogdasarian, M.D. Member; Sandra Knipe, R.N. B.S.N. Member; Margaret Hoey, Ph.D, FSU; Stephen Curry, Director; Dorothy McNamara, Public Health Nurse Accept Minutes: Minutes of the October 15, 2015 meeting was accepted as presented. Staff Reports: The nurse’s report for October 2015, was accepted as presented. A brief discussion took place about flu clinics in Fitchburg and surrounding towns. rDNA Discussion: There is actually a City Ordinance in regards to recombinant DNA. Per our ordinance it does require a permit and an inspection from the Health Department. Margaret Hoey, FSU is here to talk with us about a new policy being implemented at the university. Biohazards are dealt with on a regular basis. We have to think about hand washing in the schools and dealing with sanitary conditions. Biohazards are any infectious agents or hazardous biological materials that presents a potential risk to the health of humans, animals or the environment. Biohazards is the big category. When nurse’s train in a microbiology lab, they will be working with things like e-coli which is considered a biohazard. rDNA is the biotechnology which is a smaller category that has anything to do with biotechnology. The university has a chemical hygiene plan which regulates the use of chemicals. They approach biosafety and biohazards the same way. They know what they have, how to protect themselves and how to dispose of it. The university has never formalized a policy. With the new science building, they are making sure all of their policies are up to date and that they have all the necessary policies. The university is implementing a larger biosafety policy that would regulate the use of all hazards on campus. A consultant firm has been hired to help with the process. According to Ms. Hoey, our regulations have to do with NIH, the biotechnology. The National Institute of Health write the go to guidelines for the regulation of biotechnology. When Fitchburg adopted the ordinance in 1995, we were referencing NIH. There are two institutions that guide the use of biohazards. The NIH, which we reference in our bylaws and the CDC which publishes a document that provides guidelines on how to handle biohazards. The CDC handles the bigger picture which includes all kinds of biohazards and diseases. The NIH focuses more on the biotechnology. There are four levels of biohazards safety: Bio Level 1 – low risk to the individual, low risk to the community. Bio Level 2 – moderate risk to the individual, low risk to the community. Bio Level 3 – high risk to the individual, moderate risk to the community. Bio Level 4 – high risk to the individual, high risk to the community. The University focuses on Bio Level 1 and Bio Level 2. They have always used good practice but never codified a plan. There are three components to the plan. The Bio Safety policy regulates biohazards in general. It includes the use of biohazards and biotechnology. This policy will outline the registration and the use and disposal of all biohazards. All biohazards will be registered using only Bio Level 1. They will know what they have, where it’s stored and a general idea of who’s using it. All faculty will have to use a registration form. The University will form an institutional Biosafety Committee which is part of the NIH guidelines. The third component is to create an exposure control plan which keeps everyone safe on campus. This includes blood borne pathogens. It’s a broader plan to include public safety, maintainers and student staff. The cities regulations are dealing with recombinant DNA or the recombinant DNA molecule. The University’s policy follows the same NIH guidelines. FSU will have annual inspections by an outside biosafety consultant who will check the labs and send a letter of certification that the University is in compliance with the regulations. The University doesn’t work with a lot of hazardous bacteria but the new building has allowed the University to be safe and in compliance. Our Public Health Nurse is working on an application. The permit fee is $400 which allows the Board to seek a consultant if needed. Cosmetic Tattooing Discussion: Dottie McNamara received a call from one of the local tattoo shops regarding cosmetic tattooing. Dottie researched the old minutes from 2009. The woman applying at that time was a cosmetic tattoo artist from another state. She was certified through the American Academy of Micropigmentation. She had the schooling but did not have the years as a body artist. According to the minutes, anyone interested in cosmetic tattooing would have to come before the Board on an individual basis. Cosmetic tattooing includes work around the eyes and lips and also includes reconstructive tattooing for women who have had mastectomies. Each city has different regulations and most do not have anything written in regards to cosmetic tattooing. We refer to the city of Quincy’s regulations as a guideline. Mr. Curry did some research and found that there are only two or three communities in the State that does not allow it. He visited the website WebMD and they say it is an absolutely safe process; the only problem is if the artist is properly trained. Our regulations do not prohibit cosmetic tattooing. It is included in the definition of body art. The Town of Quincy almost allowed it a few years back. They wanted to stipulate that the artist had to be certified by the American Academy of Micropigmentation. The proper schooling gives several hours of practice prior to being permitted. Quincy had so many people applying they weren’t sure if should be done in a beauty parlor or a tattoo shop setting. They decided not to allow it at all. Salem has similar requirements with the same educational level which includes Anatomy and Physiology. Dr. Bogdasarian asked what kind of regulations the Board of Health has for standard body art. Our Director responded that the Board adopted regulations in 2001, which currently only require an A&P course with a grade of C or better at an accredited college or similar entity. The course should include instruction of the integumentary system and an equivalent of training and experience may be deemed acceptable in lieu of a course on Anatomy & Physiology. Our Director has given thought to amending the regulations. He feels that each individual should come before the Board on a case by case basis. The language in the regulation is vague but it gives the Board the ability to interpret it the way they want. Ian thinks that the Board could monitor cosmetic tattooing better if the permit was separate from body art. When the regulations were written, cosmetic tattooing was treated the same as body art. A discussion took place whether to treat cosmetic tattooing differently. Our public health nurse prefers that the cosmetic tattoo artist have an A&P course. Our Director suggested amending the regulations to require different qualifications for cosmetic tattooing. The $200 permit fee would be the same for both body art and cosmetic tattooing as long as an A&P course has been completed. Mr. Curry will prepare some minor amendments to the regulations to present at a future meeting. Many of the tattoo artist are now trying to get into tattoo removal using laser. A license from radiation control is needed. Dr. Bogdasarian was not comfortable with lay people using lasers. The Board discussed prohibiting laser tattoo removal by artist. Our Director will put some language together regarding this issue. Illegal Dumping Discussion: Mr. Murray wanted to start a discussion on illegal dumping. The area between McKay Campus and John Fitch Highway has become a major dumping site. Ian wants to change this behavior whether through enforcement, the use of cameras or education. Mr. Curry suggested a press release from the Board that states the Health Department will install cameras, work with the DEP Strike Force as well as the Fitchburg Police and are upping the ante on illegal dumping to see if it helps. The Board of Health adopted regulations in 1986, regarding illegal dumping. Chapter 65 of the Acts of 2007, instituted legislation and the ability to issue a $2,000 fine. Mr. Curry pointed out that all illegal dumping regulations and Legislation give the offender a chance to remove the dumping before a fine can be issued. Chief Martineau, FPD is willing to work with us and is also willing to install cameras. We have various sites in the City where illegal dumping takes place and is not always at the same site, making it difficult to catch with a camera. It would be almost impossible to cover all areas. The DEP Strike Force also installs cameras. Last year they placed them at the end of Westminster Hill Road but someone noticed and removed the cameras. Mr. Curry will write a press release and send it to the board members for their review. Next meeting date is January 07, 2016. Ian Murray suggested Styrofoam be put on the agenda for discussion. Meeting adjourned at 6:50 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Tina M. Kreidler Principal Clerk/Stenographer