ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND SAFETY

Transcription

1 7433/Page 1 of 5 ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND SAFETY The Board of Education is committed to providing district facilities that are environmentally healthy and safe. The Board recognizes the necessity to be proactive in all environmental areas which affect district property and occupants. It is the policy of the Board to discourage, reduce, or eliminate the use of materials of a hazardous nature within district buildings, or on the grounds. The Board supports strong efforts through regulated purchasing practices and by educating staff in reaching this goal. Whenever possible, appropriate materials will be recycled or reused. Furthermore, the Board requires that appropriate safeguards are to be implemented prior to and during maintenance or construction activities that could potentially impact environmental safety. Annually, the Board will be advised of the level of funding necessary for the proper management of environmental programs within the district. To this extent, the Board directs the Superintendent to develop regulations for the environmental management of those areas identified in this policy. Those regulations will include current governmental regulatory statutes, appropriate maintenance activities, employee training programs, record keeping, and communications. In the absence of regulatory laws, professional standards identified in this policy are to be substituted. To further insure compliance with this policy, the district will provide orientation and training of building staff in environmental health and safety programs. Informational fact sheets, which summarize current events in these regulated areas, will be published annually and distributed for school improvement training and parent notification. In addition, the Superintendent or his/her designee, will at least once annually, convene a committee to insure compliance with this policy, establish an appropriate level of funding to perform associated regulatory functions, and review and update, as necessary, the district s environmental regulations and report findings to the Board.

2 7433/Page 2 of 5 This policy, as adopted by the Board of Education, specifically covers the following environmental areas: Electromagnetic Fields (EMF s) The Board supports proactive efforts in investigating hazards associated with electromagnetic fields (EMF s). At a minimum, all district facilities and potential facilities will be evaluated for the presence of electromagnetic fields. This evaluation will be used to make informed choices as to available alternatives, which could reduce occupant exposure. For reference, will adopt, through regulation, the Environmental Protection Agency Publication #402-R as the information guide in dealing with electromagnetic fields. Hazardous Waste Reduction and Management The Board supports hazardous waste reduction and sound management practices that prevent harm to living systems and the environment, require compliance with applicable laws, and help assure the health and safety of facility users. District employees will make every effort to maintain the lowest hazardous waste generator category (Conditionally Exempt Small Quality Generator) to minimize regulatory requirements. The district will also provide for a hazardous waste management system that meets or exceeds the Michigan Hazardous Waste Management Act, P.A. 64 of 1979, as well as state and federal regulations dealing with the transportation of hazardous waste. Integrated Pest Management The Board recognizes the importance of maintaining the educational and aesthetic environment of all school facilities through a complete maintenance program. It is the Boards understanding that to provide healthy and safe facilities requires the occasional use of pesticides. It is also the belief of the Board that the health and safety of all people who use district buildings should be protected when pesticide use is required. To accomplish this, the district will through regulation. develop an Integrated Pest Management Plan that incorporates Michigan Regulation #636, Pesticide Applicators, and Regulation 637, P.A. 171.

3 7433/Page 3 of 5 Underground Storage Tanks (UST s) The Board supports the sound management of the district s UST Program, and recognizes the need to protect the environment from leaks or spills. The district will include, as part of its Underground Storage Tank Regulation, Michigan s Underground Storage Tank Regulatory Act 518 of 1988, and Leaking Underground Storage Tank Act 478 or Water Testing The Board recognizes that one of the most important pollutant pathways is through ingestion. Due to this potential hazard, the district will adopt a water testing regulation in accordance with Michigan s Drinking Water Act, P.A. 399 of The district will also include in this regulation testing of municipal water supplies when remodeling, or new construction occurs, that requires the installation of new water distribution lines or accessories. Indoor Air Quality The Board recognizes the need to proactively address indoor air quality as an emerging public health concern. Indoor air quality is not a simple, easily defined concept, but rather is a constantly changing interaction of a complex set of factors. These factors include adequate ventilation air, control of airborne contaminants, and maintenance of acceptable temperature. As a result, the Board supports efforts to identify, correct, and prevent indoor air quality problems. Control methods such as source control, ventilation adjustments, and/or improvement filtration and exposure control. To obtain the goal of adequate indoor air quality, the regulation will set standards in the areas of Asbestos, Lead, Thermal Environment, Ventilation, VOC s and other airborne contaminants. Asbestos The Board recognizes the medically documented health issues associated with improper asbestos management. To control the threat of exposure, the board will require strict adherence to measure provided by

4 7433/Page 4 of 5 EPA Regulation, Asbestos Hazardous Emergency Response Act (AHERA), 40 CFR Part 763, during any abatement activities. In addition, all abatement work requiring the use of a negative air enclosure, will not occur while school is in session. These requirements will be incorporated into the district s Indoor Air Quality Regulation. Lead The Board understands the importance of providing protection for occupants in district buildings and on district sites against the health hazards associated with lead exposure. Furthermore, the Board recognizing the medically documented effects lead poisoning can have on children, particularly those of an early age, have adopted a District Management and Operations Plan for Lead Dust. This document shall be followed during construction and maintenance activities involving disturbance to building materials that contain lead. The district will include the lead dust plan as part of the Indoor Air Quality Regulation. Radon The Board believes that radon can be detriment to good indoor air quality, and requires that a baseline assessment be conducted to determine the levels of radon in all frequently occupied ground level and basement rooms. In addition, the board requires that the district institute a regular testing schedule based on a five year rotating cycle to insure that radon levels in these spaces do not exceed set standards. To comply with these requirements, the district will incorporate guidelines established by the EPA publication, Radon Measurement in Schools, Revised Edition, July 1993, (EPA #402-R ) in the Indoor Air Quality Regulation. Thermal Environment The Board recognizes the need to properly regulate indoor air temperatures. Indoor air temperature has a direct impact on occupant comfort, productivity, and is conducive to the learning process. To help insure optimal conditions in district buildings, the Board requires the district to incorporate ASHRAE Standards , Thermal Environmental Conditions for Human Occupancy in the Indoor Air Quality Regulation.

5 7433/Page 5 of 5 Ventilation The Board recognizes that proper ventilation can reduce the possibility of occupant exposure to contaminants. To ensure the highest quality of indoor air, the Board requires that, where possible and during occupied times, ventilation units maximize the amount of fresh air that can be admitted into a facility. Furthermore, when new HVAC construction occurs, equipment designed standards will adhere to ASHRAE Standard in the Indoor Air Quality Regulation. Volatile Organic Compounds(VOC s) The Board supports the proper selection of products that reduce or eliminate the introduction of VOC s in district facilities. Low emitting, or non-voc containing products will be the products of choice. These products will be specified for new construction, remodeling, redecorating, and maintenance activities. Adopted: March 18, 1996