HIBBING PUBLIC SCHOOLS
INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT 701


BOARD POLICY 806
SERIES: 800 Building and Sites
SUBJECT: 806 Health and Safety
ADOPTED:  
REVISED:  



I. PURPOSE


        The purpose of this policy is to assist the school district in promoting health and safety, reducing injuries, and complying with federal, state, and local health and safety laws      and regulations.


II. GENERAL STATEMENT OF POLICY


        A. The policy of the school district is to implement a health and safety program that includes plans and procedures to protect employees, students, volunteers, and members of the general public who enter school district buildings and grounds.  The objective of the health and safety program will be to provide a safe and healthy learning environment; to increase safety awareness; to help prevent accidents, illnesses, and injuries; to reduce liability; to assign duties and responsibilities to school district staff to implement and maintain the health and safety program; to establish written procedures for the identification and management of hazards or potential hazards; to train school district staff on safe work practices; and to comply with all health and safety, environmental, and occupational health laws, rules, and regulations.


        B. All school district employees have a responsibility for maintaining a safe and healthy environment within the school district and are expected to be involved in the health and safety program to the extent practicable.  The district is committed to the Health and Safety of staff, students, and the community.


III. PROCEDURES


        A. Based upon recommendations from the Buildings and Grounds Supervisor and subject to the budget adopted by the school board to implement or maintain these recommendations, the administration will adopt and implement written plans and procedures for identification and management of hazards or potential hazards existing within the school district in accordance with federal, state, and local laws, rules, and regulations. The administration shall identify a contact person to oversee compliance with each specific plan or procedure.


        B.  To the extent that federal, state, and local laws, rules, and regulations do not exist for identification and management of hazards or potential hazards, the Buildings and Grounds Supervisor shall evaluate other available resources and generally accepted best practice recommendations. Best practices are techniques or actions which, through experience or research, have consistently proven to lead to specific positive outcomes.


        C. The school district shall monitor and make good faith efforts to comply with any new or amended laws, rules, or regulations to control potential hazards.


IV. PROGRAM AND PLANS


A. For the purpose of implementing this policy, the administration will, within the budgetary limitations adopted by the school board, implement a health and safety program that includes specific plan requirements in various areas as identified by the Buildings and Grounds Supervisor.  Areas that may be considered include, but are not limited to, the following:


        1.      Asbestos
        2.      Fire and Life Safety
        3.      Combustible and Hazardous Materials Storage
        4.      Indoor Air Quality
        5.      Mechanical Ventilation
        6.      Mold Cleanup and Abatement
        7.      Accident and Injury Reduction Program:  Model AWAIR Program for Minnesota Schools
        8.      Infectious Waste/Bloodborne Pathogens
        9.      Community and Employee Right to Know
        10.     Compressed Gas Safety
        11.     Confined Space Standard
        12.     Electrical Safety
        13.     First Aid/CPR/AED
        14.     Food Safety Inspection
        15.     Forklift Safety
        16.     Hazardous Waste
        17.     Hearing Conservation
        18.     Hoist/Lift/Elevator Safety
        19.     Integrated Pest Management
        20.     Laboratory Safety Standard/Chemical Hygiene Plan
        21.     Lead
        22.     Control of Hazardous Energy Sources (Lockout/Tagout)
        23.     Machine Guarding
        24.     Personal Protection Equipment (PPE)
        25.     Playground Safety
        26.     Radon
        27.     Respiratory Protection
        28.     Underground and Above Ground Storage Tanks
        29.     Welding/Cutting/Brazing
        30.     Chlorine
        31.     Fall Protection
        32.     Other areas determined to be appropriate by the health and safety advisory committee.


If a risk is not present in the school district, the preparation of a plan or procedure for that risk will not be necessary.


        B. The administration shall establish procedures to ensure, to the extent practicable, that all employees are properly trained and instructed in job procedures, crisis response duties, and emergency response actions where exposure or possible exposure to hazards and potential hazards may occur.


        C. The administration shall conduct safety inspections and drills. Any identified hazards, unsafe conditions, or unsafe practices will be documented and corrective action taken to the extent practicable to control that hazard, unsafe condition, or unsafe practice.


        D. Communication from employees regarding hazards, unsafe or potentially unsafe working conditions, and unsafe or potentially unsafe practices is encouraged in either written or oral form. No employee will be retaliated against for reporting hazards or unsafe or potentially unsafe working conditions or practices.


        E. The administration shall conduct periodic workplace inspections to identify potential hazards and safety concerns.


        F. In the event of an accident the school district shall conduct an accident investigation in order to determine the cause of the incident and to take action to prevent a similar incident.  All accidents must be reported to an immediate supervisor as soon as possible.


V. BUDGET
 The superintendent or his/her designee shall be responsible for the various plan requirements of the health and safety program. The superintendent, or such other school official as designated by the superintendent, each year shall prepare preliminary revenue and expenditure budgets for the school district’s health and safety program. No funds may be expended for the health and safety program in any school year prior to the adoption of the budget document authorizing that expenditure for that year. The health and safety program shall be implemented, conducted, and administered within the fiscal restraints of the budget so adopted.


VI. ENFORCEMENT
Enforcement of this policy is necessary for the goals of the school district’s health and safety program to be achieved.  Within applicable budget limitations, school district employees will be trained and receive periodic reviews of safety practices and procedures, focusing on areas that directly affect the employees’ job duties.  Employees shall participate in practice drills. Willful violations of safe work practices may result in disciplinary action in accordance with applicable school district policies.



Legal References:       
Minn. Stat. §123B.56 (Health, Safety, and Environmental Management)
Minn. Stat. §123B.57 (Capital Expenditure; Health and Safety)


Cross References:       
MSBA/MASA Model Policy 407 (Employee Right to Know - Exposure to Hazardous Substances)
MSBA/MASA Model Policy 701 (Establishment and Adoption of School District Budget)
MSBA/MASA Model Policy 806 (Crisis Management Policy