8405 - ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND SAFETY PROGRAM
The Board recognizes its responsibility to provide students, employees, and visitors with a safe and healthful environment. To this end, the Board directs the Superintendent to develop a comprehensive program designed to provide a healthy, safe, and secure environment on District property and at District-sponsored activities. To achieve this, it is the intent of the Board that the District will avail itself of current, proven technologies in the fields of health, safety, and environmental sciences.
INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY PLAN (IEQ)
In accordance with the District’s recognition of the importance of a safe and healthful environment to the educational atmosphere, the Superintendent will implement an IEQ Management Plan (IEQ Plan) and take appropriate measures to adhere to the requirements in the IEQ Plan.
The Buildings and Grounds Director will carry out the responsibilities of the IEQ Plan.
The District shall provide a copy of the District's IEQ Plan to any person upon request.
STUDENT, EMPLOYEE, AND VISITOR HEALTH AND SAFETY
The District shall develop and implement an environmental health and safety program that is positive, proactive, integrates responsibilities within the District, and promotes and incorporates the following:
Procedures describing a hazard identification and abatement program that requires the periodic inspection of District facilities, the implementation of immediate and programed corrective actions when deemed necessary by such inspections, and the development of a District-wide hazard reporting procedure that enables employee/stakeholder participation. This program should also provide procedures for identifying and responding to hazards that are created by outside entities, inspecting activities of contractors, and inspecting new facilities to determine whether appropriate requirements for environmental health and safety have been met.
Procedures that promote environmental health and safety awareness among employees, students, and stakeholders. These procedures shall include, but not be limited to, the establishment of a program of regular communication with students, employees, and stakeholders about pertinent safety and health issues through available mediums in the District.
Procedures directed toward the safety and health of students during transportation to and from school, at school, and during participation in school-related activities. These procedures shall include, but not be limited to, promoting bus safety for students, assessing the safety of school traffic patterns, operating school clinics, administering medication and medical treatment, promoting laboratory and shop safety, promoting safety in sports and other outdoor activities, inspecting playground equipment and promoting safety on playgrounds, and assessing environmental exposure.
Procedures related to District employee health and safety issues that include, but are not limited to, provision of work areas free from recognized hazards and programs that are required by Federal and State law, and defining employer and employee responsibilities and expectations related to health and safety.
Procedures describing an accident reporting and investigation system that provides for identification of root causes, determination of remedial and programmed corrective actions, and communication about accidents to employees and stakeholders.
Procedures for foreseeable emergencies and fire prevention.
Procedures relating to recordkeeping required by State or Federal law.
PHASE-OUT/BANNED PRODUCTS
The Superintendent shall require that any chemicals, insecticides, or other materials that the Federal government is phasing out and/or banning by a certain date be immediately banned from use on Board property.
INDOOR AIR QUALITY – MICROBIAL ABATEMENT
The Board recognizes that excessive moisture levels within the schools can lead to conditions that are optimum for the development of biological contaminants, such as mold, fungi and other microbials on building surfaces. The Board further recognizes that the presence of these contaminants can be harmful on contact with respiratory tissue. As such, the Board shall consider preventative measures to address the following:
roof leaks
structural defects in the building
improperly controlled humidity levels
faulty HVAC systems
DIESEL EXHAUST AND SCHOOL BUS IDLING
In accordance with the Environmental Protection Agency’s initiative to reduce pollution that is caused by school buses on school property, the Board will take the recommended steps to reduce the negative effect of diesel exhaust on indoor and outdoor air quality on school campuses. This effort shall include, but not be limited to, reducing bus idling time and reinforcing smart driving practices.
POLLUTION CONTROL AND PREVENTION
In an effort to comply with the environmental policy and applicable regulations, the District shall develop and implement procedures designed to prevent air and water pollution, minimize or eliminate waste streams where possible, and identify possible sources of air and water pollution as required by State and Federal law.
USE OF FREE-FLOWING MERCURY-CONTAINING PRODUCTS
The District shall not purchase or use for any reason free-flowing elemental mercury.
The District shall not purchase or use any products containing mercury as those products are defined by applicable State law, unless no reasonable alternative product is available and the product with the lowest mercury content is used. This rule does not apply to products whose purchase is required by Federal law or products whose only mercury content is in a button cell battery.
SEE ALSO THE FOLLOWING RELATED POLICIES:
Policy 7420 - Hygienic Management
Policy 7430 - Safety Standards
Policy 8410 - School Safety and Crisis Intervention
Policy 8420 - Emergency Preparedness
Policy 8431 - Preparedness for Toxic Hazards
Policy 8431.01 - Asbestos Management
Policy 8442 - Reporting Accidents
Policy 8450 - Control of Casual-Contact Communicable Diseases Policy 8453 - Direct Contact Communicable Diseases
Policy 8453.01 - Control of Blood-Borne Pathogens
See also DPI IEQ Plan https://dpi.wi.gov/sfs/
Revised 1/21/19
Revised 4/19/21
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