Health And Safety

Health & Safety Newsletters

Click to download December 2011 newsletter

PSSP HEALTH & SAFETY NEWS LETTER:
SEPTEMBER 2011: ISSUE 001

PROFESSIONAL STUDENT SERVICE PERSONNEL OCCUPATIONAL
HEALTH & SAFETY health.safety@pssp.on.ca
Contact: Sharon De Four

Welcome back,

The purpose of this online resource is to provide specialized (Health & Safety information, to the Professional Student Services Personnel (PSSP) members at the end of the month. This resource is intended to be a communication tool to disseminate information to the membership at large. It will serve to bond us together as one, informs, announces, reminds, advise, instruct, advertise and communicate issues related to Health & Safety.

This newsletter will list sources, resources and summarize more recent developments while enhancing the efficiency of education and training programs, inspections and school visits will be a vital part of educating.
HEALTH & SAFETY TRAINING IN 2011/2012

ASBESTOS/WHMIS (Workplace Hazardous Materials Information Systems)

This course is designed to provide all TDSB employees and all other regular occupants of TDSB property with an awareness level training on Asbestos & WHMIS a computer base training around chemical safety and hazards in the workplace. Asbestos training includes a Quiz that is to be completed by all employees. Available on Key to Learn.

Simple Mistakes can shatter Lives be aware!

Know Your Classroom

All Staff should familiarize themselves with their classroom surroundings—especially if it is a newly-assigned room—by looking around the space from top to bottom from time to time and reporting suspected hazards to the principal.

A staff who requires support or assistance may contact their in-school federation H&S representative or their federation Joint H&S Committee member as listed on the school H&S bulletin board. For PSSP members that would be Sharon De Four: health.safety@pssp.on.ca

Here are some typical classroom hazards to be aware of:

  • unstable desks, tables, chairs and rocking chairs
  • loose or overloaded shelves
  • improperly secured map and screen mounts
  • paper cutters without finger guards
  • exposed wires on cords
  • damaged plugs or those missing ground pins on electrical equipment, such as overhead projectors and TVs
  • broken outlets
  • improperly stored or unlabeled cleaning products and liquids—all should have workplace safety (WHMIS) labels affixed and material safety data sheets (MSDS) on file
  • broken, loose or missing ceiling tiles
  • out of date of missing fire exit route signs
  • broken PA or telephone
  • poor air quality

All schools are inspected annually by a team of inspectors representing OSSTF,PSSP, ETFO, CUPE, MCSTC (trades) and PSSP. From the H&S Communicator

Recent health and safety bulletins

  • SEPTEMBER 11, 2011: Ovarian Cancer Canada Walk – 10 Years. 5 km. 1 Hope early detection & increased survival rates.
  • SEPTEMBER 25, 2011: AIDS walk for life – Walk distance: 5 Km, Starts: Church & Carlton Street
  • SEPTEMBER 21, 2011: World Alzheimer’s Day – The theme for World Alzheimer’s Day™ 2011 is ‘Faces of dementia’
  • SEPTEMBER 21, 2011: ADVACED POLLS OPEN – GET OUT AND VOTE

CARETAKING HANDBOOK

Working in Schools Outside of Normal Operating Hours

INTRODUCTION
Teachers and administrative staff wishing to work after hours must have permission from the principal and are requested to observe the following protocol. A permit is not required.

The Head Caretaker must be informed to avoid disruption of necessary caretaking and maintenance activities, and to ensure safety of personnel and security of buildings, and to promote energy conservation.

PROCEDURES
School Year Weekdays (Early or Late)

On weekdays outside of regularly scheduled caretaking shifts (i.e., normally before 7:00 a.m. and after 11:00 p.m.; check with the head caretaker for exact hours at each site), buildings are closed and cannot be entered. Before 8 a.m. and after 6 p.m., caretaking staff are engaged in a variety of essential tasks such as building and grounds inspection, unlocking/locking doors, shutting windows, heating plant operation, cleaning, operational maintenance, providing service for permits, and security checks. Therefore, to avoid disruption of these activities, school staff are advised to not enter or remain in the building during these times. Similarly, students should not be in the building unless they are under the direct supervision of a member of teaching staff. Should it be necessary, however, for a member of school staff to enter or remain in the building during these times, the following procedures are to be followed:

  • The Principal should notify the Head Caretaker in advance of those staff who have been given permission to work in the school, the expected time of entry or departure, and location within the school. This will ensure that caretaking staff are aware of the presence of other staff members in the building, and will avoid the possibility of one party disrupting the other’s activities.
  • Staff are to enter or leave the building using only the designated entry/exit door.
  • While in the building, staff are requested to proceed to the area they will be working in, and to remain in that area while working. For security reasons, do not unlock or open any windows or tamper with any security device. For energy conservation reasons, do not adjust any thermostats or turn on more lights than required.
  • The only persons(s) allowed to enter the building are those staff member(s) to whom the principal has given permission. Other persons (family members, friends, acquaintances) should not enter the building with the staff member(s); neither should pets. The exception to this is students accompanied by and/or under the direct supervision of a member of teaching staff.
  • When finished working in the evening, staff are requested to sign-out using the caretaker’s log book. This will let the caretaking staff know that the building has been vacated and that the area(s) used may be cleaned and secured. Exit only through the designated entry/exit door. Staff should leave the building at least one hour before the end of the caretaker’s shift.

Weekends and Statutory Holidays
On weekends and all statutory holidays, all school buildings are closed unless permit arrangements have been made for special programs. Caretaking staff will be present only to provide service for an approved permit. Therefore, staff will normally not be able to gain entry into a building to work.
Should it be necessary however for the Principal/designate or Facility Services staff to enter or remain in the school during these times, the following procedures should be followed:

  • Principal/designate or Facility Services staff members contact the TDSB Call Centre to advise that they will be entering the school and will provide an approximate time for leaving the building.
  • Principal/designate or Facility Services staff member enters the building and disarms the surveillance system.
  • When leaving the building Principal/designate or FS staff member will ensure the building is secure, contact the TDSB Call Centre and advise them that they are leaving the building, and then reactivate the surveillance system.

Winter, Summer and Christmas Break Periods (Weekdays except for Statutory Holidays)
On weekends during Winter and Christmas Break periods, all school buildings are closed unless permit arrangements have been made for special programs. The same holds for the Summer Break except for the first week following the end of the school year, and the two weeks before the start of the school year, during which time the building is open for staff entry and work. Caretaking staffing is greatly reduced due to vacations, and building systems such as heat, ventilation, air conditioning and lighting are reduced to minimal levels to conserve energy. School staff are therefore requested to not enter schools during this period. If, however, in the principal’s opinion it is necessary for some staff to work in schools during one of the Break periods, the following procedures are to be followed:

  • The Principal should notify the Head Caretaker in advance of those staff who have been given permission to work in the school, the date and time of entry, expected duration, and location within the school. This is to ensure that caretaking coverage will be available on the desired date and time.
  • One entry/exit door will be designated in advance. Staff are to use this door only for entering and leaving the building.
  • Upon entry, staff will be requested to sign-in, using the caretaker’s log book. This will let the caretaking staff know that someone is in the building.
  • While in the building, staff are requested to proceed to the area they will be working in, and to remain in that area while working. For security reasons, do not unlock or open any windows or tamper with any security device. For energy conservation reasons, do not adjust any thermostats or turn on more lights than required.
  • The only persons(s) allowed to enter the building are those staff member(s) to whom the principal has given permission. Other persons (family members, friends, acquaintances) should not enter the building with the staff member(s); neither should pets.
  • When finished working, staff are requested to sign-out using the caretaker’s log book. This will let the caretaking staff know that the building has been vacated and that the area(s) used may be cleaned and secured. Exit only through the designated entry/exit door. Staff should leave the building at least one hour before the end of the caretaker’s shift.

NOTE: Please refer to Caretaking Handbook, Section I – 3 (Keys and Access Control) for further information.

Revised: October 24, 2007