Winston-Dillard School District 116

Orig. Code(s): EB-R

Safety Program Committee

Introduction

The personal safety and health of each student and employee of the Winston-Dillard School District 116 is of primary importance. The prevention of occupationally-induced accidents and illnesses is of great importance to the district. The district shall provide mechanical and physical facilities required for personal safety and health in keeping with the Oregon Safe Employment Act. The district shall maintain a safety and health program conforming with Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Codes.

Through its comprehensive safety program, the district will attempt to prevent accidents by assuring a safe working and learning environment. Warning systems such as smoke detectors will be installed; accident prevention instruction will be given to students and staff; safety procedures will be taught; and other precautions will be taken in order to attempt to eliminate accidents and potentially harmful situations.

Regulation

Each educational complex in the district shall establish a safety committee to review safety practices and procedures for their complex and to recommend practices and procedures to the complex staff and the superintendent on how to eliminate identified hazards and unsafe work practices.

Implementation of Regulation

1. Safety Committee Formation and Membership

a. The committee must be composed of an equal number of employer and employee representatives, however, when agreed upon by employees and the district, the number of employees on the committee may be greater than the number of employer representatives. The committee shall consist of:

(1) No fewer than two (2) members for complex with 20 or less employees; or

(2) No fewer than four (4) members for complex with more than 20 employees.

b. The employee members, other than the employer representatives, are volunteers or elected by their peers to serve on the committee for a continuous term of at least one (1) year, unless there is a provision in the collective bargaining agreement that addresses the selection of employee representatives.

c. Length of membership shall be staggered so that at least one (1) experienced member is always serving on the committee.

d. A chair will be elected annually by the committee members. The election will be in the fall school term.

e. Committee members serving outside of work hours will be paid to attend such meetings or training at their regular rate of pay or overtime or compensatory time will be provided as appropriate.

2. Training for Safety Committee Members

Training for safety committee members shall include, but not be limited to:

a. Safety committee purpose and operation;

b. Oregon Administrative Rules 437-001-0760 through 437-001-0765 and their application;

c. Methods of conducting safety committee meetings;

d. Hazard identification in the workplace;

e. Applicable Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Rules;

f. Effective accident and incident investigation techniques.

3. Safety Committee Duties and Functions

To assist the district to develop and maintain loss prevention effort, the safety committee shall:

a. Meet at least monthly (except quarterly inspection months and summer months). The committee shall:

(1) Develop written agenda for meetings;

(2) Prescribe the order of committee business;

(3) Review corrective action taken on previous month’s recommendation(s), if any.

b. Maintain written records for three (3) years:

(1) Oregon OSHA may inspect records;

(2) Post meeting minutes for all employees in complex;

(3) Send copies of minutes to all committee members and the superintendent;

(4) All reports, evaluations, and recommendations must be part of minutes.

c. Establish a system which encourages all employees to make suggestions through the committee on safety and health issues:

(1) Review obtained information at next safety committee meeting.

d. Establish review procedures for inspection reports. Based on the review, the committee shall make recommendations on development of:

(1) Safety and health plans;

(2) Employer safety and health rules;

(3) Written safe work procedures;

(4) An annual review procedure for the employer’s loss prevention effort.

e. Through routine inspection of all facilities, materials, and equipment, as well as through training of staff, identify, report, and correct hazardous or potentially hazardous conditions;

f. Following the inspection, sign a report including discrepancies and specifying actions needed for correction. A follow-up inspection shall be made when the correction is finished. A summary report shall be given to the board at least once a year;

g. Evaluate the district’s policies, regulations, and procedures which may affect safety and health in the workplace and make written recommendations for change or adoption of new policies, regulations, and procedures.

4. The district shall utilize appropriate precautions when the application of any pesticide or other potentially harmful substance is used on school premises. Only those products readily available and approved for such use shall be used. Those products which can be applied without special licensing or training are most appropriate. Employees shall be instructed with regard to the correct and safe application of any potentially hazardous or harmful substance. Where required, the employee must hold the appropriate state license. The Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for any product used for such purposes shall be available for employees or members of the public.

5. Authority of Safety Committee

All safety committee recommendations are advisory to the local educational complex staff and administration and to the superintendent. The administration shall respond in writing to all committee recommendations prior to the next monthly meeting noting action taken or planned on committee recommendations.