708.5AR - Health and Safety Programs

Adopted: August 2001
Revised: April 2019

Download 708.5AR - Health and Safety Programs

1. Machine Guarding

The administration will develop a machine safety management plan that will include the following:

1.1 Annual training for covered employees;

1.2 A written preventive maintenance program to assist in proper repair;

1.3 Power outage protection and emergency stops installed on all designated equipment;

1.4 Designated equipment fixed or provided non-slip flooring to prevent the machine from moving;

1.5 Proper guarding of machines in accordance with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 29 CFR 1910 subpart O;

1.6 Proper safe-work placards required for equipment;

1.7 Procurement of future equipment following bid specification criteria from the Minnesota Department of Education, and

1.8 All student or employee accidents, injuries or near misses recorded on a shop log.

2. Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)

The administration will develop an indoor air quality management plan that will include the following:

2.1 Appointment of the District 196 Facilities and Grounds Manager to serve as the IAQ coordinator.  The IAQ coordinator is identified by the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) as the Project Manager (certification number I2412);

2.2 A method for notifying district employees, parents and students of the role of the IAQ coordinator and who the person is;

2.3 A walk-through preventive maintenance program to evaluate water intrusions (interior and exterior), ventilation failures or problems, other building and structural deficiencies, and overall cleanliness of the buildings and classrooms;

2.4 An annual evaluation using the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPAs) Tools for Schools or its equivalent;

2.5 A communications, complaint and prioritization process to follow when addressing IAQ concerns and information requests from staff, students and parents;

2.6 Evaluation of the mechanical ventilation rate of each occupied space and planning and implementing improvement in areas found to be inadequate according to state law, statute or rule, and

2.7 Proper commissioning of all mechanical ventilation improvements with a one year warranty allowing for a full range of seasons.

3. Confined Space

The administration will develop a confined space management plan that includes the following:

3.1 Appointment of a district employee to serve as a contact person for confined spaces;

3.2 A survey of each school for the presence of confined spaces;

3.3 Evaluation of each confined space to determine hazards, including atmosphere, engulfment/entrapment and other;

3.4 Classification of confined spaces into one of two categories:  permit required or non-permitted;

3.5 Proper signage and entry procedures, and

3.6 Annual training for all affected employees.

4. Safety Committee

The administration will implement a safety committee to do the following:

4.1 Develop and implement a written statement describing the committee’s role and responsibility, including to evaluate high hazard areas and to implement a clear line of communication between employees and the committee;

4.2 Consider the following activities:  establishment of annual safety goals, conducting and reviewing safety inspections, reviewing accident reports and OSHA 300 logs, accept and review employee suggestions, and monitor the effectiveness of current safety programs, and

4.3 Meet at least quarterly.

5. Laboratory Safety

The administration will develop a laboratory safety management plan that includes the following:

5.1 Requirements per OSHA Laboratory Safety Standard 29 CFR 1910.1450;

5.2 Appointment of an individual to serve as the Chemical Hygiene Officer (CHO) to be responsible for:

5.2.1 Annual development and review of:

5.2.1.1 A list of chemicals and determination of necessary acquisition and quantities;

5.2.1.2 Chemical handling and bulk dispensing procedures, storage and disposal procedures;

5.2.1.3 Personal protective equipment and engineering controls;

5.2.1.4 Training for affected staff, and

5.2.1.5 Record-keeping practices and procedures.

5.2.2 Quarterly surveying of laboratory areas for potential hazards.

6. Health, Safety and Environmental Management

The administration will develop a safety and environmental management plan that includes the following:

6.1 Development and evaluation of an annual list of regulatory and non-regulatory hazards and submission of the list to the Minnesota Department of Education;

6.2 Each listed item should have a responsible person, scheduled abatement,  plan of response, warning signs and proper personal equipment if necessary, and

6.3 Information shall be made available upon request.

7. Lockout/Tagout

The administration will develop a lockout/tagout plan that includes the following:

7.1 Appointment of a district employee to serve as a contact person for lockout/tagout zones;

7.2 A survey of each school to identify energy potential physical hazards;

7.3 Evaluation of record-keeping practices and procedures;

7.4 Develop specific energy controls when required;

7.5 Annual training for all affected employees;

7.6 Evaluation of current lockout/tagout procedures;

7.7 Identification of locks, tags and other devices, and

7.8 Implementation procedures to inform contractors of lockout/tagout requirements.

8. Employee Right-to-Know/Hazardous Communication

The administration will develop an Employee Right-to-Know/Hazardous Communication management plan that will include the following:

8.1 Develop and implement a written management plan for MN Employee Right-to-Know, in compliance with MN Regulations 5206;

8.2 The Facilities and Grounds Manager will serve as a contact person;

8.3 Identify hazard communications functional areas;

8.4 Survey all facilities to identify chemical, heat, noise, radiation and infectious agent hazards;

8.5 Manage safety data sheets (SDS) acquisition, compilation, and distribution;

8.6 Perform chemical inventories for hazard communications functional areas and corresponding MSDS;

8.7 Monitor use and labeling on secondary use containers;

8.8 Ensure placement of Employee Right-to-Know postings (state and federal);

8.9 Perform initial and annual functional area training;

8.10 Provide all record-keeping activities and procedures, and

8.11 Respond to regulatory agency correspondence, guidelines, and recommendations.

9. Lead in school drinking water

The administration will develop a lead in school drinking water testing plan that will include the following:

9.1 Provisions to accurately and efficiently test for lead in public school buildings serving students from prekindergarten through grade 12;

9.2 A testing schedule requiring each building serving students from prekindergarten through grade 12 to be tested at least once every five years;

9.3 School Board approval as required by Minnesota Statute 121A.335, and

9.4 A requirement that the results of testing be available for public review and that parents and guardians be notified of the availability of the information.