8400 - ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUES

School Board of Charlotte County

Bylaws & Policies

8400 - ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUES

The School Board recognizes its responsibility relative to student, employee, and visitor health and safety, and the need for development of 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 the most current, proven technologies in the fields of health, safety, and environmental sciences.

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:

	A.	Procedures describing a hazard identification and abatement program that require the periodic inspection of District facilities, the implementation of immediate and programmed corrective actions when deemed necessary by such inspection, and the development of a District-wide hazard reporting procedure that enables employee/stakeholder notification. 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 or not appropriate requirements for environmental health and safety have been met;
	B.	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 school and District safety committees, and 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;
	C.	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;
	D.	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 OSHA-related programs that are required by federal and state law, such as, employee safety and health training and training in hazard recognition, and defining employer and employee responsibilities and expectations related to health and safety;
	E.	Procedures describing an accident reporting and investigation system that provides for identification of root causes, determination of remedial and programmed corrective actions, and provides communication about accidents to employees and stakeholders; and
	F.	Procedures that detail plans for foreseeable emergencies and fire prevention.

PHASE-OUT/BANNED PRODUCTS

Chemicals, insecticides, or other materials that the federal government is phasing out and/or banning by a certain date will be immediately banned from use on Board property.

SERVICE ANIMALS

The Board shall permit the use of a service animal by an individual with a disability in compliance with Federal and State law.

The Superintendent shall not ask about the nature or extent of a person's disability, but may inquire whether the animal is required because of a disability and what work or task the animal has been trained to perform. The Board shall not require documentation, such as proof that the animal has been certified, trained, or licensed, as a service animal. Please refer to the District's guidelines for the Use of Service Animals by Students with Disabilities for specific procedures for students needing service animals. These guidelines may be obtained through the ESE Department of the District or on the District's website.

ANIMALS IN CLASSROOMS

Use of animals in classrooms shall be limited to that necessary to support the educational mission, taking into consideration that some animals can cause or exacerbate allergic reactions, spread bacterial infections, or cause damage and create a hazard if they escape from confinement. Animals in classrooms shall be kept in a healthy condition in appropriate cages or tanks, which are kept clean.

INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY (IEQ)

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 and fungi on building surfaces. The Board further recognizes that the presence of these contaminants can be harmful on contact with respiratory tissue.

Contributing factors to excessive moisture levels include the following:

	A.	Roof leaks;
	B.	Structural defects in the building;
	C.	Improperly controlled humidity levels;
	D.	Faulty HVAC systems.

As preventative measures, the District shall do the following:

	A.	Address prevention of water intrusion as a priority Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) issue and implement strategies toward its elimination;
	B.	Maintain environmental conditions in occupied areas that are in compliance with applicable regulations and strive to conform to consensus industry standards;
	C.	Maintain a preventative maintenance program for Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems which shall include, but not limited to, periodic filter replacement, inspection, cleaning and disinfecting processes, and procedures to eliminate the contribution to indoor air quality problems caused by this equipment; and
	D.	Maintain a system for insuring materials used and purchased for use in the construction, furnishing, and maintenance, including cleaning of facilities, do not contribute to health hazards to employees and students by degrading the quality of indoor air. In addition, activities that create indoor air quality health hazards shall not be permitted.

In addition, the Superintendent shall develop administrative procedures for the proper monitoring of the factors that contribute to excessive moisture and for the development of mitigation plans when, and if, problems with IAQ are identified.

DIESEL EXHAUST AND SCHOOL BUS IDLING

Pursuant to the Florida Administrative Code, the Board prohibits the unnecessary idling of school buses in the vicinity of students. Further, 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 steps recommended 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, reinforcing smart driving practices.

The Superintendent shall develop the administrative procedures necessary to establish these practices in the District.

ASBESTOS-CONTAINING MATERIALS

The District shall appoint a "Local Education Agency designated person" responsible for ensuring development and implementation of a program to manage asbestos-containing materials in accordance with applicable U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requirements.

INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT

The District shall implement a pest management program in accordance with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in Schools procedures.

HAZARDOUS MATERIALS AND WASTE MANAGEMENT

The District will continue to identify, control the use of, and dispose of regulated and hazardous wastes generated as a result of district activities. Such procedures shall be in compliance with all U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Florida Department of Environmental Protection Hazardous Waste Regulations.

POLLUTION CONTROL AND PREVENTION

In an effort to comply with 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.

SEE ALSO THE FOLLOWING RELATED POLICIES:

Policy 8410	-	Crisis Event Intervention and Response
Policy 8420	-	Emergency Evacuation Drills
Policy 8431	-	Preparedness of Toxic Hazard and Asbestos Hazard

Policy 8450	-	Control of Casual-Contact Communicable Diseases
Policy 8453	-	HIV, AIDS, and Other Direct Contact Communicable Diseases
Policy 8453.01	-	Control of Bloodborne Pathogens

F.S. 381.0056, 403.021, 1006.07, 1006.22
F.A.C. 6A-3.0171(2)(f)