FILE:  EBB

 

SAFETY PROGRAM

 

 

Employee accidents are undesirable, unplanned occurrences which can be prevented and which often result in bodily harm, loss of time, expensive legal action, property damage, needless cost, and personal pain and suffering.  A system-wide program of safety shall be maintained in order to render the school system environment as hazard-free as possible.  Provisions of the safety program shall be in compliance with all state and federal guidelines.  All available information and assistance shall be utilized to enhance the safety of the school system.

 

As part of the safety program, the School Board shall require regular inspections of the buildings and grounds of each school, by the principal or the building administrator at non-school sites.  Quarterly inspections, documented in writing, concerning the condition of all buildings within the system in terms of student, employee, and public care and safety shall be submitted by the principal or building administrator to the Superintendent or designee.

 

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

 

Supervisors and school administrators shall acquaint each employee under their charge with the school emergency preparedness guidelines and their area of responsibility in the event of emergency.  They should supervise, implement and evaluate all on-going disaster preparedness programs for the school or department.

 

Faculty members shall provide students with instructions in the area of disaster preparedness and participate in disaster preparedness training programs.

 

Every school should have a well-stocked first aid kit and one or more individuals responsible for it.

 

Principals and supervisors shall have readily available the phone numbers of the fire department, police department, ambulance service, all bus operators and substitute operators.

 

FIRST AID

 

It shall be the responsibility of the school or the facility administrator to schedule and implement employee first aid programs that shall provide trained first aid persons at each site.  Laboratory instructors, coaches, vocational and shop instructors, cafeteria and maintenance department personnel should undergo first aid training and continue to maintain their first aid certification.  A complete first aid kit shall be placed and maintained in all potentially hazardous areas, such as shops, labs, cafeterias, janitors' rooms, and physical education departments.  A log sheet shall be kept at each job site, and all first aid treatment shall be logged to show the date, name of employee, job title, and reason for treatment and the first aid service provided.

 

RECORDKEEPING

 

Records of injuries are essential to an efficient and successful loss control program.  They provide a means for gauging frequency and severity areas of operation for providing information concerning the cause of loss.  Therefore, the West Carroll Parish School Board shall require adequate accident and safety records be prepared and maintained, including the following:

 

  1. Inspection reports, minutes of safety meetings and training records, for a period of one (1) year from the end of the year for which the records are maintained.  Accident reports will be kept for five (5) years.

  2. OHSA Logs and/or other applicable recordkeeping requirements set forth in 29 CFR 1904 - Recording and Reporting Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, for a period of five (5) years.

 

PERSONNEL RESPONSIBILITIES

 

The effectiveness of Safety Program will depend upon the participation, sincerity and cooperation of administrators, principals, and all staff in the execution of the following basic procedures:

 

  1. Planning all work to avoid personal injury, property damage, and loss of productive time.

  2. Maintaining a system that promptly detects and corrects unsafe practices and conditions.

  3. Requiring the use of personal protective equipment and mechanical guards wherever necessary.

  4. Maintaining an effective system of equipment and tool inspection and maintenance.

  5. Establishing an educational program to maintain interest and cooperation of all levels of employment through:

 

    1. Planned Safety Meetings.

    2. Investigating all accidents to determine cause and taking the necessary corrective action.

    3. Posting government forms, keeping records, and enforcing safety requirements for all operations.

    4. Using accident prevention literature and posters to keep safety goals continually in the forefront.

 

Safety Coordinator

 

The Safety Coordinator shall be held responsible to the Superintendent for all safety and accident prevention activities at the schools.  He/she shall make certain that:

 

  1. Safety rules and regulations are followed and a qualified first aid person is available.

  2. Employees are given proper safety training and instruction and that each employee review the safety rules

  3. Principals/department heads, and all employees attend a periodic safety meeting.

  4. All accidents are reported and the reports are sent to the Safety Coordinator.

  5. Accidents receive prompt investigation and accident causes are eliminated.

  6. Safety inspections of the school facilities and equipment are made regularly by assigned personnel and proper records are kept.

  7. Safe working conditions are provided and maintained.

  8. A semester workplace inspection checklist is completed at the start of each semester.

  9. An attempt to comply with all applicable regulations, and notices promulgated by federal, state, and local authorities.

  10. Accident Investigation Reports are personally signed by the principal/ department head.

  11. Appropriate work safety rules are established and discussed with all employees.

 

Principal/Department Head's Responsibilities

 

  1. Maintaining safe working conditions in all areas under his/her supervision.

  2. Correcting unsafe practices of workers and instructing employees under his/her supervision.

  3. Making certain that employees wear required personal protective equipment such as safety goggles, etc.  This must be monitored constantly and strictly enforced. Repeated violations of safety rules may be cause for dismissal proceedings.

  4. Promptly investigating every accident and correcting the unsafe act or physical condition.  The value of accident investigation is lost unless underlying causes are determined and the information used to prevent similar occurrences.

  5. Completing in detail the Accident Investigation Report immediately following the accident and routing the report to the Safety Coordinator.

  6. Making certain that all injuries to his/her staff are reported promptly and that an LWC-WC IA-1 (Louisiana Workforce Commission, Workers' Compensation - Employers First Report of Injury or Illness) is completed and forwarded to the Business Office.

 

SAFETY RULES

 

Common sense and good judgment should be foremost in every situation where safety is involved.  Listed below are some general safety rules that could apply, but not limited to, all employees:

 

  1. Report every personal injury, however minor, immediately to the principal or immediate supervisor.  Delayed reporting of the injury is inexcusable.

  2. Report unsafe conditions and mechanical and electrical defects immediately to the principal.

  3. Use every safeguard provided.  Do not wear loose clothing, key chains, rings etc. which may get caught in machinery.

  4. Walk and stop attentively and keep firm footing and balance at all times.

  5. Horseplay shall not be tolerated.

  6. Observe all safety rules while using equipment or machinery.  Never assign an employee to any machine or mechanical or electrical device unless he/she has received instruction related to the safe operation.

  7. Lift with legs; set feet firmly; bend knees; keep back straight; and do not twist body.  If the object is too heavy, get help.

  8. Keep work area clean and free of loose objects, stumbling or slipping hazards, rubbish, etc.  Floors should be kept clean and free of spillage.

  9. When using tools and equipment, do not use if it is defective.  Never leave materials, tools, etc. "laying around" or cluttered.

  10. Never grease or service machinery while in motion.

  11. Never leave an unsafe condition unguarded or unmarked, even temporarily. 

  12. Inspect each ladder before using.  Be sure ladder is properly positioned and secure at top and bottom.

  13. Read labels on containers before using.

  14. Make safety the first consideration in every situation.

 

TRAINING PROGRAM

 

Management has implemented a training program that provides for training of each new employee, existing employees on new jobs or when new jobs or work is initiated.  Such training shall be accomplished by the job supervisor.

 

Training shall be provided to all persons in supervisory positions in:

 

  1. Conducting Safety Meetings

  2. Conducting Inspections

  3. Accident Investigation

  4. Job Planning

  5. Employee Training Methods

  6. Leadership Skills

 

Supervisory training shall be provided by an outside safety consultant who is on the list of safety practitioners, maintained by the Director, who meet the necessary state regulatory criteria.

 

SEMESTER WORK PLACE INSPECTION

 

It is the policy of the West Carroll Parish School Board that inspections be made of the workplace on a semester basis by the principal or his/her designee, or by the building supervisor.  The written report shall be retained for a period of one (1) year.  This report is designed to cover the identification of recognized unsafe conditions, unsafe acts, or any other items inherent in a particular job.  A space in the form is included to indicate any corrective action.

 

The principal/building supervisor shall sign each Semester Inspection Form.  A copy of the completed inspection shall be sent to the Safety Coordinator.

 

BIANNUAL SAFETY MEETINGS

 

Biannual safety meetings shall be held by the principal/building supervisor and all his/her employees.  The biannual safety meeting report shall be kept showing the topics discussed, date and the names of the persons attending the meeting.

 

Any topics of immediate concern shall be addressed at the monthly faculty meetings.

 

ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION

 

An accident investigation shall be made on each injury requiring a visit to a clinic or physician by the principal or building supervisor.  The immediate supervisor will investigate the accident and complete the Accident Investigation Report and forward it to the principal/building supervisor.  This report includes information on the person injured, his or her job, what happened, what was the basic cause, what corrective action is required and the action taken.

 

Accidents that do not require immediate medical attention but might have special significance and be in the best interest of the West Carroll Parish School Board will also be investigated by the principal/building supervisor.

 

 

Ref:    La. Rev. Stat. Ann. ยงยง17:81, 17:169, 17:416, 22:16, 23:1021, 23:1291, 36:301, 36:308, 36:309, 40:1578.6

Louisiana Handbook for School Administrators, Bulletin 741, Louisiana Department of Education

Board minutes, 4-1-91

 

West Carroll Parish School Board