Health & Safety
Contact:
Tom Morris: morris.tom@slpschools.org

Health & Safety online training: isd283.claritynet.com

Employee MSDS Access Information
hq.msdsonline.com/stlouisparkpublic/Search/Default.aspx

It is the policy of the St. Louis Park Schools to provide a safe and healthy work and learning environment for all employees and students. The District will provide appropriate equipment, safeguards, personal protection, training and administrative support to protect employee safety and health. District employees will be trained to work safely and will be required to comply with all safety rules and standards.

Background
The Minnesota Occupational Safety and Health program (MNOSHA) requires employers with higher than average injury and illness rates to develop a comprehensive written health and safety program. Although these programs are considered optional for most schools, the Department of Children, Families, and Learning (DCFL) has encouraged school districts to develop and implement accident and injury reduction programs and other health and safety management programs.|

The purpose of A Workplace Accident and Injury Reduction Program (AWAIR) is to reduce employee injuries and illnesses by identifying, analyzing and controlling hazards. Under these programs, all accidents and near misses are to be investigated and measures are to be taken to correct problems. Employers are expected to develop and enforce mandatory safe work practices, while providing the equipment and safeguards necessary for employees to work safely. These plans must be communicated to employees so they can participate and take an active role in health and safety. Employers with more than 25 employees are expected to form a joint health and safety committee to involve employees in the program.

Summary
The St. Louis Park School District has developed A Workplace Program for Accident and Injury Reduction (AWAIR) to establish and implement a written program promoting safe and healthful working conditions based on clearly stated goals and objectives. This program includes requirements covered under Minnesota Statutes 182.653, A Workplace Accident and Injury Reduction Act. In addition, written management programs have been developed and implemented for 21 other health and safety areas.

AWAIR Program Goals
The District has established the following goals for the AWAIR program:
  1. Continuously reduce annual lost work day incident rate for each District location below level from previous year.
  2. Bring each building into compliance with applicable occupational safety and health (MNOSHA) regulations identified in health and safety audits.
  3. Implement continuing, effective health and safety programs to provide District employees with a safe and healthful workplace.
  4. Actively encourage District employee involvement in health and safety programs.

Program Objectives
The District has identified the following steps for accomplishing these goals. (Copies of the District AWAIR Program are available to employees upon request.)
  1. Assign responsibilities.
  2. Establish systems for identifying, analyzing and controlling hazards.
  3. Communicate program effectively and encourage employee participation.
  4. Investigate all incidents.
  5. Enforce safe work practices and rules.

Responsibilities
The District AWAIR program is managed by theHealth & Safety Coordinators with oversight by a District-wide Safety and Health Committee. Responsibilities for implementation of District health and safety programs are assigned as follows:

Health & Safety Coordinators
  • Requests funding to maintain effective health and safety programs
  • Oversees and coordinates implementation of AWAIR program
  • Provides new employee orientation
  • Monitors program effectiveness, revising program as necessary
  • Evaluates and updates AWAIR program annually
  • Conducts routine inspections
  • Performs follow-up to verify problems are corrected promptly
  • Oversees accident and incident investigations
  • Oversees Job Hazard Analyses (JHAs)
  • Oversees scheduling of health and safety meetings/training sessions
  • Encourages and reinforces employee participation in health and safety matters

Health and Safety Committee Members
  • Attend committee meetings
  • Complete assigned tasks determined by committee (inspections, job hazard assessments, accident investigations, etc.)
  • Post copies of minutes
  • Ask co-workers for suggestions and input
  • Communicate about safety issues and encourage safe behavior
  • Recommend corrections and follow-up to be sure actions are taken

District Employees
  • Provide comments, ideas, and suggestions about safety
  • Report all accidents and incidents
  • Attend required safety training and meetings

Identifying, Analyzing, and Controlling Hazards
The Health & Safety Coordinators oversee implementation and maintenance of health and safety management programs and OSHA compliance activities. Routine site visits and program reviews are conducted at each District location to verify compliance or identify hazardous conditions and work practices.

Written management programs have been developed for the following health and safety areas:
• Asbestos Program
• Bloodborne Pathogens Program
• Community Right-to-Know Program
• Compressed Gas Safety Program
• Confined Space Entry Program
• Emergency Action and Fire Prevention Program
• Employee Right-to-Know Program Program
• Ergonomics Program
• First Aid/CPR Program
• Hazardous Air Emissions (Boilers) Program
• Hazardous Waste Program
• Hearing Conservation Program
• Indoor Air Quality Program
• Laboratory Safety - Chemical Hygiene Program
• Lead Program
• Lockout/Tagout - Energy Control Program
• OSHA Inspections, 200 Logs
• Personal Protective Equipment Program
• Playground Safety Program
• Radon
• Respiratory Protection Program
• Safety Committee (Accident Injury Reduction Program - AWAIR)

Hazardous Incident/Accident Investigations
All hazardous incidents ("near misses") and accidents are to be investigated and corrective actions taken. The Health & Safety Coordinators oversee health and safety investigations, including:
• Maintaining form(s) to report, document and analyze all incidents
• Promptly performing hazardous incident ("near miss") and accident investigations
• Implementing corrective actions to prevent repeat incidents
Hazard Controls
To implement and maintain required safety controls, steps taken by the Health & Safety Coordinators include:
• Assign highest priority to safety-related maintenance work orders
• Oversee purchase of needed controls such as equipment/product replacement
• Oversee purchase of appropriate personal protective equipment
• Provide additional employee training as needed

Communicating Programs to District Employees
Employees are encouraged to get involved in the District health and safety programs. Health and safety information and training are provided to employees through this web site, employee handouts, and departmental training sessions.

District employees are encouraged to speak up about their health and safety concerns. If questions or problems cannot be resolved at the building level, the Health & Safety Coordinators will assist in finding a prompt response and resolution.

To improve employee compliance with requirements and participation in safety-related matters, the Health and Safety Committee members are asked to:
• Post copies of safety meeting minutes
• Ask coworkers for suggestions and input
• Communicate about safety issues and encourage safe behavior

Enforcing Safe Work Practices and Rules
To ensure safe work practices and rules are consistently enforced, the Health & Safety Coordinators oversee these measures:
• Enforcing safe work practices and rules consistently among District employees
• Retraining employees if initial training appears to be ineffective
• Enforcing and documenting progressive discipline program

Health and Safety Committee
The District has chosen to develop a joint management-labor Safety and Health Committee. The Health & Safety Coordinators maintains records of committee activities, including meeting minutes and documentation of follow-up activities. The Safety and Health Committee meets every other month during the school year.

The goals of the committee and corresponding activities are as follows:
Goal: To represent District employees on health and safety matters. To help communicate program details and encourage employee involvement in the District health and safety programs.
Activities: Communicate committee activities to District employees
Bring back questions and concerns from coworkers to committee
Encourage District employees to report health and safety problems and complaints
Goal: To reduce work-related accidents and illnesses among District employees, by identifying and analyzing hazards, and recommending control strategies.
Activities: Discuss trends in accidents/illnesses and analyze OSHA 200 Log Summary information
Identify district-wide strategies for prevention and control
Evaluate successes of prevention and control strategies
Goal: To monitor District compliance with applicable health and safety regulations, and encourage enforcement of safe work practices and rules.
Activities: Discuss results of mock OSHA audits, agency inspections, and compliance activities
Recommend District-wide activities to achieve or maintain compliance.


6425 West 33rd Street St. Louis Park, MN 55426-3498
phone: 952.928.6000 fax: 952.928.6020
contact us by email