New Hires: Safety Guidelines
General Safety Information Purpose
To provide key safety and accident prevention precautions as we are dedicated to providing a safe and healthy work environment for all district personnel. Our goal is to reduce the frequency and severity of accidental injuries by providing employees with safety information and appropriate safety training as a means of protecting employee welfare.
Employer Responsibilities
As your employer, we are responsible for providing a safe and healthy workplace free from recognized hazards. We are responsible for establishing, supervising and enforcing safety rules, providing the required training to all employees, ensuring personal protective equipment is worn when tasks dictate, and conducting an investigation of all accidents regardless of severity.
Employee Responsibilities
As an employee, you are required to know and comply with all safety rules and procedures: immediately report all accidents to your supervisor, identify and report all potential hazards, plan an active role in creating a safe and healthy workplace, use common sense while performing your job and do not take shortcuts.
Purpose of Safety Rules
Safety rules are established to reduce the frequency and severity of accidental injuries. Accidents are preventable. It is your responsibility to follow all safety rules pertaining to your job. If you have questions, please ask your supervisor about specific safety rules that pertain to your job. All safety rules pertain to employees using common sense and being aware of the hazards of their work environment. Failure to follow safety rules could result in disciplinary action.
Accident Reporting/Investigation
An accident is a sudden, unintentional or unplanned event or happening that occurs unexpectedly, which may or may not cause bodily injury or property damage, but has the potential to do so. Report all accidents to your supervisor immediately. If you are injured on the job and seek medical attention by a physician, please contact appropriate district personnel.
First Aid Requirements
First Aid training will be available to all who are required as part of their roles and responsibilities. Please check with your supervisor to find the location of your first aid kit.
Safety Committee
Each building will have a safety committee. The main purpose of the safety committee is to monitor the effectiveness of safety policies and procedures.
Emergency Procedures
All employees will be provided training in emergency procedures as outlined by the building and district. Important points to remember: Know your escape route(s) for fire, earthquake, etc. Learn your emergency evacuation procedures and participate in drills, know the location of emergency equipment (fire extinguishers, fire alarm pull boxes, natural disaster kits, etc.), become familiar with the district’s emergency preparedness procedures (active shooter, fire, earthquake, lockdown, etc.), check with your supervisor for the location of the posted emergency escape route.
Hazard Reporting
A hazard is an accident waiting to happen. Sometimes accidents do not result in an injury; this type of accident is called a near-miss. Report a near-miss to your supervisor immediately. It is the employee’s right and responsibility to report unsafe acts, conditions or procedures encountered. Report all hazards to your supervisor in writing or verbally. If possible all hazards will be corrected at the site level. Some may require further assistance. Report hazards to safety committee for reviewing.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
All employees whose positions require the use of personal protective equipment will be provided instruction on use of that equipment by their supervisor. The requirement for use, care and maintenance of PPE, the issuance of PPE will be provided free of charge to each employee whose job requires its use, and performing any job without the use of the required PPE could result in disciplinary action. (Example: Required annual training for Bloodborne Pathogens)
Hazard Communications
Hazard communications are a series of safety precautions to ensure that employees are properly informed of the chemical hazards associated with products used in their work areas. As an employee: Access to the MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) information with all chemicals used in the workplace. Trained on proper use of personal protective equipment associated with chemicals used. Please note: Employees are prohibited from bringing household chemicals to work. Please check with your supervisor before using any consumer-formulated cleaning products at work.
Science Laboratory Safety
Safety in science laboratories is a critical component of the district’s safety plan. Employees working with hazardous chemicals in laboratories should be informed of all potential hazards and know how to protect themselves from overexposure to chemicals. MSDS should be readily available to employees working in science laboratories.
Lock-out Tag-out
Lock-out and tag-out requirements are precautions to ensure that machines are isolated from all potentially hazardous energy sources. Equipment should be locked-out and tagged-out before employees perform and servicing or maintenance activities where the unexpected energization, start-up or release of stored energy could cause injury. Affected employees will be given specific training of the lock-out or tag-out procedures during their initial job safety training conducted by their site supervisor.
Hearing Conservation
Hearing conservation focuses on protecting employees from potential hearing loss due to exposure to high occupational noise levels. The district will identify all areas in which you may work that exceed designated noise levels. Additionally, the district will take preventative measures to reduce that exposure depending on noise levels.
Respiratory Protection
Respiratory protection focuses on safety precautions for the proper use of respirators, types of filters, fit testing, as well as training for employees who may be exposed to airborne toxins including performance of their jobs. Affected employees will receive medical screening and specialized training prior to being required to wear a respirator.
Fall Protection
Fall-protection standards helps protect district employees from injury. Follow these general guidelines to prevent falls:
- Use handrails when using stairs
- Use caution when walking on surfaces which contain ice, snow, rock, oil, water or other adverse or unstable materials conditions
- Immediately clean up spills
- Prevent fall hazards by keeping stairs, walkways, aisles and walk areas clear of boxes, loose materials, wires and other objects
- Select shoes for comfort and safety that are compatible with your work environment
- Do not stand or climb on a desk, chair or other unstable surface. Use a ladder.
Proper Lifting Techniques
- The goal is to avoid back injuries and to keep you safe!
- Be respectful of your own personal, physical limitations. Do NOT lift an item if it is not easily lifted! Ask for help!
- Use your legs.
- Keep your lower back bowed in while bending over.
- Keep your weight as close as possible to the item lifted.
- Bow your back in, and raise with your head first.
- If you must turn, turn with your feet, not your body.
- Never jerk or twist.
- Put the weight down but keeping your lower back bowed in.
Vehicle Safety
Employees should not transport students. This is for your own safety & liability.