Administrative Procedure 160

HEALTH AND SAFETY OF STUDENTS AND STAFF

Background

The Charter Board is committed to providing a safe and healthy study and work environment for its students, staff members, volunteers, contractors and the general public.
The Charter Board’s objective is to prevent all work related illness, injury and property damage in all work execution and operations of the School. This will be achieved by creating a work atmosphere in which health and safety is implemented with everyday operations. All employees of all levels are responsible and accountable for the School’s health and safety performance and to comply with the Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Act, Code and Regulations, and the Workers’ Compensation Act.

Procedures

1. Under the Occupational Health and Safety Act and its regulations, all staff members have the responsibility to ensure the health and safety of students, themselves and their colleagues.
1.1 All staff and contractors shall comply with Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) legislation.
1.2 All School personnel and contractors shall comply with Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) standards.
1.3 All School personnel and contractors who, as part of their duties, either use or may be exposed to hazardous chemicals shall take a WHMIS training course.
1.4 All students in laboratory courses shall have a safety training session.
2. The Principal shall:
2.1 Be familiar with WHMIS;
2.2 Ensure that the School’s copy of the yellow WHMIS binder is kept current.
2.3 Review WHMIS requirements with their staffs each September;
2.4 Ensure that yearly inventories of chemicals are conducted; and
2.5 Ensure that MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) sheets are current.
3. The establishment and maintenance of safe learning and working conditions is to be a primary consideration for staff.
3.1 Appropriate staff shall participate in WHMIS information programs provided by the School.
3.2 Staff with questions regarding WHMIS are to contact the Principal.
4. The Principal shall develop procedures that prescribe the rules of safe operation of all laboratories within the School. Such procedures shall address:
4.1 Safe and secure storage, annual checking, and disposal, where needed, of chemicals;
4.2 WHMIS labeling of all chemicals;
4.3 Safe and secure storage and use of laboratory equipment;
4.4 Safe use of natural gas and security when gas is not in use;
4.5 Appropriate teacher supervision of students in all laboratory activities;
4.6 The training of staff in the use and maintenance of safety equipment, and the use and hazards of any equipment
or chemicals they may use as well as the safety requirements of any procedure or activity they may use;
4.7 The training of students in any safety procedures relevant to the work they are doing; and
4.8 Any other measures required to ensure the safety of students and staff in any school laboratory.
5. The development and implementation of safety and accident prevention programs is mandatory in order to develop a
learning and working environment that promotes health and safety. The Superintendent will:
5.1 Provide the education and tools required so all employees are aware of their responsibilities and duties under
the Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Act, Code and Regulations.
5.2 Ensure that there is an OHS Advisory Committee to review Occupational Health and Safety issues and
incidents, and provide recommendations.
6. Certification in the Transportation and Handling of Dangerous Goods (TAHDG) shall be a condition of employment
for those employees as determined by the Principal.
6.1 Only certified personnel will handle or transport goods identified as dangerous goods, under specific
procedures as developed by the OHS Advisory Committee.
6.2 Dangerous goods not properly labelled, placarded or documented will not be handled or transported.
7. The provision of instruction and training to students and staff is essential in order to encourage safe working practices
and to ensure appropriate response in the event of an accident.
7.1 In order to ensure that there are staff members proficient in administering first aid, the Superintendent
encourages staff members to take a standard first aid course.
7.2 Any staff member covered by worker’s compensation who is injured while carrying out their duties to the
School shall, within the specified time, fill out any forms required under Workers Compensation.
7.3 Any staff member not covered under Workers Compensation shall report to the Principal any injury caused by
an accident while carrying out their duties to the School. The principal shall report such accident injury to the
Superintendent.
7.4 The application of Universal Precautions, meaning the application of strategies for isolation precautions to
prevent the spread of blood-borne infections by applying Blood and Body Fluid precautions universally to all
persons regardless of their presumed infection status, is mandatory for all staff members.
7.4.1 Universal Precautions in a school setting shall apply to isolation of all moist and potentially infectious
body substances (blood, feces, urine, sputum, saliva, wound drainage, and other body fluids) from
all persons regardless of their presumed infection status through the use of protective gloves.
7.4.2 Staff members shall put on clean protective gloves just before contact with mucous membranes,
non-intact skin and for anticipated contact with moist body substances. Protective gloves are to be
removed promptly after use, before handling non-contaminated items or environmental surfaces.
Hands are to be washed immediately to avoid transfer of microorganisms to others or environments.
7.4.3 The Principal shall ensure that an adequate supply of protective gloves is available to all staff
members and that all staff members have knowledge of storage locations and easy access to the
protective gloves.
7.4.4 The Principal shall ensure that procedures are developed for the application of Universal
Precautions in the School.

References: Section 25, 26, 33, 52, 53, 196, 197, 222, 225 Education Act
Emergency Medical Aid Act
Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy
Act Health Information Act
Occupational Health and Safety
Act Personal Information
Protection Act Public Health Act
Communicable Disease Regulation 238/1985                                  Dangerous Goods Transportation and Handling Regulation 157/97 Occupational Health and Safety Code
Occupational Health and Safety Regulations