3.2. SR 02-14-2005
Item # 3.2.
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Lori Johnson, Finance and Administrative Services Director
DATE: February 14, 2005
SUBJECT: Consider Senior Center Office Furniture Purchase
Recendy, the Safety Committee worked with the Minnesota Department of Labor and
Industry's Workplace Safety Consultation department to conduct an ergonomic evaluation
of the City's workspaces. The purpose of the review was to help employees adjust their
workspace to fit their individual needs and as a result, to help eliminate current and potential
workplace injuries such as carpel tunnel or neck strain.
One area of concern identified in the review is the office for the Senior Center staff.
Attached is an excerpt from the MNOSHA report addressing the issues in the Senior Center
(called Senior Program Director's Office in the report). Currendy two employees share one
office and a workspace. The existing furniture is not conducive to this arrangement since it
is not adjustable and it cannot be reconfigured to fit the office space better. The solution to
alleviate the ergonomic issues is to purchase a separate, easily adjustable workstation for each
employee; this furniture will also fit in the room much better making more usable space for
more fue draws and for a table that will be used by staff when meeting with seniors.
Sue Kostanshek received a proposal from Commerical Environments using the University of
Minnesota contract for this furniture at a cost of $5,882.81. This is the same contract and
vendor used for the City Hall furniture. Since this purchase is safety related and not
budgeted, staff recommends that it be funded with the Insurance Reserve fund.
Action Requested
Authorize purchase of office furniture totaling $5,882.81 from Commercial Environments
for the Senior Center office staff with the purchase funded by the Insurance Reserve fund.
Department of Labor and Industry - The leader ifrPromotingworl<place solutions
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DATE: December 6,2004
TO: Dave Berggren, MMUA
FROM: Jolyn T. Crum, MNOSHA Workplace Safety Consultation
PHONE: 651/284-5343
SUBJECT: Ergonomics Visit - Elk River Public Utilities, Senior Center and Streets
Department, E ~/.i.... P.. \ V ~ (!.., '-tv; He, II
The following correspondence will detail the individual workstation visits at the Elk River Utilities
building, Senior Center and Streets Department as well as provide general ideas for ergonomic-
related improvements to the facility.
Although, at present time, there is no specific Minnesota or Federal ergonomics regulation, an
employer has an obligation under the General Duty Clause to correct recoRnized ergonomics
hazards which are causing or likely to cause injury.
General Issues .
Employee Involvement
Employee involvement is recognized as an important part of an effective ergonomics program. This
incorporates the knowledge, insights and preferences of the people who actually perform the
specific tasks of concern, as well as their ownership into any changes made
Employee involvement may take the form of a standing ergonomics committee, an ergonomics
steering committee, or an ergonomics subcommittee to the established safety committee.
Involvement might also be structured as temporary task or project teams established to address
specific tasks, issues, or concerns.
Where an issue may involve re-design or re-adjustment of an existing workstation, appropriate staff
should be involved in these activities to incorporate their expertise such as maintenance, safety and
purchasing, as well as the employee who occupies the station.
Senior Center
Senior Computer Workstation - The workstations for seniors is a fixed height with fixed computer
keyboard drawers. Several different chairs are available for use, most of which are adjustable to
some degree. However, if residents have difficulty reaching adjustment handles or have difficulty
moving/adjusting the chairs, they won't so they may require assistance from employees before
working at the stations.
Senior Program Director's Office - This office has a computer "cubby" (pre-fabricated cupboard style
computer station). The employee's computer monitor was very close to the user and could not be
moved back due to the limited space in the monitor section of the "cubby". The section has a piece
of board on the back that could be cut out to allow for better placement of the monitor. The
keyboard was placed on a keyboard drawer that was not adjustable in any way, restricting the height
and angle at which an employee could type. The office had several other pieces offumiture within it
that restricted overall employee movement. The room layout could be redesigned with the use of
...ith...r nr::lnh n~np.r or CAD drawinas.
Commercial Environments, Inc.
2015 SilverBellRoad, Suite 195,Eagan,MN 55122
M1in: 651.,.289..6200 Fa~ 651..289-6222
Cell: 612-701-9488 E-mail: JXllll'{toollUl1elw.oom
UMVendor# OOll}207~72
F urnitureProposal
City of Elk River~~!tmgl'ee:fiferI~t~i;;!
January 19,2005
Style & University ofMN contract #: Rosemount Intuity U42.12A
Furniture
Qty Product Description List Price UM Price Ea. Extended Price
Office option 2- Desk unit freestanding 48" x
2 72" x 24" deep on ends - curved corner 1,410.00 583.74 $1,167.48
2 Return 24"wide x 24" deep with support end 590.00 244.26 $488.52
2 72" Hutch - closed back with doors 1,345.00 556.83 $1,113.66
I Freestanding desk 30" d x 6O"wide 835.00 345.69 $345.69
Freestanding closed back Hutch with doors
I 60" 1,084.00 448.78 $448.78
3 Tackboards for Hutches TKB.RTG.1660 291.00 120.47 $361.42
3 TasklIghts for hutches UEL.UTL.60 167.00 69.14 - $207.41
3 Box Box f1le units w/ pencil trays - fixed 350.00 144.90 - $434.70
2 File/File Units mobile 418.00 173.05 $346.10
Furniture Total $4,913.77
Shipping $0.00
Installation $610.00
Sub total $5,523.77
Tax 6.5% $359.04
Project Total $5,882.81
Installation quoted for Mon.-Fri. 8-5 installation hours.
)- Any hookup to house power to be done by a qualified electrician, selected by the client - not included in quote
)- Any datal phone cabling or hook up to be handled by client - not included in quote
)- Rooms emptied by the client before the installers arrive. Moving of existing furniture not included in the quote
)- Use of freight elevator to access levels, and dock to unload truck must be available on date of installation
Installation Site: Bill To:
City of Elk River Senior Center City of Elk River - Senior Center
Guardian Angels building 13065 Orono Parkway Box 490
350 Evans Ave. Elk River; MN 55330
Elk River, MN 55330
Phone:763-241..4434 Suzanne Kostanshek Phone: 763-241..4434 Fax: 763-441..7425
Terms: NET 30 days
. There is a 30% restocking fee for returned product
Send Payment to: Commercial Environments, Inc.
, 2015 Silver Bell Rd. , Suite 195
Eagan, MN 55121
The above listed products and prices are agreed upon for purchase. The terms have been reviewed and are agreed upon.
Purchase Order #
Reviewed By
Date