BP 603.17
Page 1 of 2
ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
Policy of the Board of Education
The Governing Board recognizes its obligation to provide a safe and healthy environment at
school facilities for students, staff, and community members. The Board shall identify and
address potential risks to health and the environment and shall ensure that environmental
resources are used in a responsible manner.
(cf. BP 300.4 - Tobacco-Free Schools)
(cf. BP 300.9 – Safety and Civil Defense and Disaster Preparedness Plan)
(cf. BP 500.29 - Bloodborne Pathogens Exposure Control Program)
(cf. BP 603.19 - Universal Precautions)
(cf. BP 300.53 - Safety)
The Superintendent or designee shall establish regulations to prevent and/or reduce
environmental hazards in accordance with law and state guidelines. Strategies shall include but
not necessarily be limited to:
1.
Considering air quality in the siding and architectural design of new or remodeled
facilities and in the selection of building materials and furnishings and taking steps to
reduce indoor air contaminants in maintenance operations;
2.
Ensuring the use of effective, least toxic pest management practices at all district schools;
3.
Minimizing the exposure to lead in paint, soil or drinking water, especially in areas
accessible to very young children;
4.
Inspecting and testing facilities for asbestos-containing materials and protecting persons
during encapsulation and removal of any asbestos; and
5.
Cautioning staff and students regarding the health hazards and restricting physical
activities during periods of extreme heat and when air pollution episodes have been
declared.
The Superintendent or designee shall notify parents/guardians, as appropriate, if an
environmental hazard is discovered at a school site. The notification shall detail the district's
efforts to remedy the hazard.
Modification of the school day will be made only upon notification by the superintendent's
office.
(cf. BP 603.5 – Emergency Schedules)
BP 603.17
Page 2 of 2
ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
Policy of the Board of Education
Legal Reference:
EDUCATION CODE
17366
Legislative intent (fitness of buildings for occupancy)
17582
Deferred maintenance fund
17590
Asbestos abatement fund
17608-17613 Healthy Schools Act of 2000
32240-32245 Lead-Safe Schools Protection Act
48980.3
Notification of pesticides
49410-49410.7 Asbestos materials containment or removal
FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL CODE
11401-12408 Pest Control Operations and Agricultural Chemicals
13180-13188 Healthy Schools Act of 2000
GOVERNMENT CODE
3543.2
Scope of representation; right to negotiate safety conditions
CODE OF REGULATIONS, TITLE 8
340-340.2
Employer's obligation to provide safety information
1532.1
Construction safety orders, lead standard
5142
Heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems; minimum ventilation
5143
Mechanical ventilating systems; inspection and maintenance
CODE OF REGULATIONS, TITLE 17
35001-35099 Accreditation in Lead Abatement Services
UNITED STATES CODE, TITLE 7
136-136y
Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodentcide Act
UNITED STATES CODE, TITLE 15
2641-2656
Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act
CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS, TITLE 40
763.93
Management Plans
763.94
Record keeping
Other References:
Indoor Air Quality, A Guide for Educators (1995). California Department of Education
Air Now. A Cross Agency U.S. Government Website at http://www.airnow.gov/
California Air Resources Board at http://www.arb.ca.gov/homepage.htm
Policy Adopted: November 9, 1993
Revision Approved: February 28, 2006
Revision Approved: October 8, 2009
AR 603.17
Page 1 of 7
ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
Administrative Regulations
Air Quality
The Superintendent or designee shall ensure that the following measures are taken in order to
reduce indoor air contaminants:
1.
Heating, ventilating, and air conditioning systems shall be operated, inspected, and
maintained in accordance with Title 8 California Code of Regulations Section 5142-5143.
School buildings shall be inspected annually to ensure they have adequate ventilation
systems, which are properly maintained to preclude the buildup of mold, mildew, and
other air contaminants. Filters shall be changed frequently.
2.
Indoor painting of school buildings shall be limited to those times when school is not in
session.
3.
Low-emission cleaning products shall be used whenever possible, and custodial duties
that require polluting products shall be performed after classes are dismissed.
4.
Paints, adhesives and solvents shall be used and stored in well-ventilated areas; these
items shall be purchased in small quantities to avoid storage exposure.
5.
Exterior wall and foundation cracks and openings shall be sealed as soon as possible, to
control exposure to radon.
6.
Water-damaged ceiling tiles, carpet, and other building materials shall be removed as
soon as practicable.
7.
Plain water or soap and water shall be used as cleaning agents; aerosols, including air
fresheners, shall be avoided.
8.
Pest control measures shall involve the use of integrated pest management (IPM)
procedures.
AR 603.17
Page 2 of 7
ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
Administrative Regulations
Transmission of Information on Air Pollution to the District and to Schools
1. The direction for declaring an air pollution episode shall come from the San Joaquin Valley
Unified Air Pollution District with offices located in Fresno. Information about air quality
can also be obtained from the California Air Resources Board and U.S. governmental agency
“Air Now.” It will be the responsibility of the Superintendent or designee to call for actual
and predicted pollution levels when general conditions foretell a health concern. A primary
general condition is extreme heat. When the temperature is over 90 degrees and we are
receiving Air Quality Index (AQI) readings in excess of 100 from the media, a daily check of
air quality from a responsible source (e.g., Air Now, California Air Resources Board [see
Other References section]) shall be made.
2. The Superintendent or designee shall inform and consult with the superintendent's office
regarding the need to notify schools when the Air Quality Index reaches a level of health
concern. Transmission of the notification to schools may be accomplished through the
"telephone calling tree" or other efficient procedure approved by the superintendent's office
for response to disasters of all types.
Advanced Planning by School Site Staff
1. Develop and maintain a file of students and staff who have or are susceptible to respiratory
problems. The file should contain data on the location of such persons at different times
during the day.
2. Review with staff, generally, the procedures to be followed for those at high risk and for all
students during various levels of air pollution episodes.
3. Review with physical education teachers and other teachers directing strenuous activity
programs the alternate programs available during an air pollution episode.
4. Principals should familiarize themselves and other appropriate personnel with the
communication network and the distribution of information to all staff.
AR 603.17
Page 3 of 7
ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
Administrative Regulations
Air Quality Index Levels and Restrictions of Physical Activities
1. Health Advisory -- 101-150 Air Quality Index (AQI) Unhealthy for Sensitive Group (Orange
Level)
a. Susceptible individuals, especially those with heart or lung disease should limit physical
activity beginning at 10:00 a.m.
b. Everyone, including healthy adults and students should curtail prolonged vigorous
exercise.
c. Physical education instruction and recess activities shall be modified, to curtail prolonged
vigorous exercise1 if the AQI readings are in this range and the temperature exceeds 90
degrees.
1
Prolonged vigorous activity means to engage, more than briefly, in physical activity that would
increase the heart rate to a moderate range. Illustrations of acceptable and unacceptable physical
activity are provided below.
Students may:
Walk
Bars
Hula Hoops
Swings (K, 1, 2, 3)
4 square
Kick back (kicking the ball back and forth)
Catch
Students in the sensitive group may NOT,
and all other students may not, except for
briefly:
Jump rope
Run (to include):
 Basketball game/running
 Soccer Games/ running
 Dodge ball/ running
 Tag/running
2. Health Advisory -- 151-200 AQI Unhealthy (Red Level)
a. Outdoor physical activity is limited for all students and staff as described below. Take
extra precautions with those students and staff with known heart and lung conditions such
as asthma. All students and staff are to refrain from all vigorous and strenuous outdoor
activities2 which will increase the respiratory rate of participants. This includes physical
activities that occur during: (1) physical education instruction; (2) recess periods; (3)
before school and after school activities, and (4) noon-hour activities.
AR 603.17
Page 4 of 7
ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
Administrative Regulations
b. Students and staff with special health problems shall follow any additional precautions
recommended in writing by their physicians.
c. If an “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” Level is currently in effect at the time that an
after school game, event, or practice is scheduled to begin, that activity shall be
postponed.
2
Vigorous and strenuous physical activity means those actions that increase the respiratory rates
of participants. Illustrations of acceptable and unacceptable activity are provided below.
Students may:
Students may NOT:
Walk
Bars
Hula Hoops
Swings (K, 1, 2, 3)
4 square
Kick back (kicking the ball back and forth)
Catch
Jump rope
Run (to include):
 Basketball game/running
 Soccer Games/ running
 Dodge ball/ running
 Tag/running
3. Health Advisory -- 200-300 AQI -- VERY Unhealthful (Purple Level)
a.
All students and staff at every school level shall remain indoors and keep all physical
activity to a minimum. Exceptions to the indoor restriction include lunch, restroom and
water breaks, and walking to scheduled classes.
b. Additional restrictions such as shortening of the school day or closing of schools shall be
made by the superintendent. Staff monitors e-mail and fax machines for updates.
4. Health Advisory -- 301-500 AQI -- Hazardous (Maroon Level)
a. This level triggers health warnings of emergency conditions likely to affect the entire
population. Students and staff remain indoors, cease all but minimally necessary physical
activity, and await emergency response directions.
AR 603.17
Page 5 of 7
ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
Administrative Regulations
Special Instructions to Administrators
1.
Students with special health problems shall follow the precautions recommended by their
physicians. In the absence of physician recommendation, outdoor activities of these
students shall be curtailed accordingly.
2.
Physical education activities shall be modified or cancelled based on episode levels as
specified above.
3.
Compliance with restrictions of physical education activities based on the
recommendations responsible government sources (e.g., Air Now, California Air
Resources Board [see Other References section]) shall be the responsibility of the site
administrator.
4.
The site administrator and teachers shall use extreme caution in supervising students'
physical activities during air pollution episodes and may take independent actions to
protect the health of students.
Lead Exposure Reduction
The following steps shall be taken to minimize potential exposure to lead:
1.
Painted surfaces shall be kept intact whenever possible. To minimize lead dust during
maintenance operations, a tarp or plastic shall be placed under paint removal operations
to collect old paint debris, paint shall be dampened before removing it with a scraper,
nearby surfaces shall be cleaned with a wet mop or cloth after the job is completed, a
High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) attachment may be used on power sanders, and
clean-up may be conducted with HEPA vacuums to remove lead dust. An open flame
shall not be used to remove old paint.
2.
Soil with high lead content may be covered with grass, other plantings, concrete or
asphalt. Children's access to bare soil shall be limited.
3.
When drinking water is found to have unacceptable levels of lead, water outlets shall be
flushed daily for at least 30 seconds prior to use. The Superintendent or designee also
may reduce lead concentrations in the source water, install a corrosion control device at
the school's point of entry, or provide bottled water as appropriate.
AR 603.17
Page 6 of 7
ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
Administrative Regulations
4.
Lead exposure hazards shall be evaluated before any renovation or remodeling is begun,
and children shall not be allowed in or near buildings in which these activities may create
lead dust. Contractors and workers shall comply with state and federal standards related
to the handling and disposal of lead debris and the clean-up and containment dust within
the construction area.
5.
The Superintendent or designee may provide parents/guardians and students with
information about the prevention of lead poisoning.
6.
Remedial action to abate existing lead hazards shall be taken only by personnel qualified
in accordance with law (Education Code 32243).
Asbestos Testing and Abatement
Maintenance staff shall be trained in the location, identification, proper cleaning and ongoing
maintenance of asbestos-containing materials and in the removal and decontamination of small
amounts of such materials when needed to repair pipes or perform similar duties. Extensive
asbestos abatement work shall be completed by state-certified asbestos abatement contractors in
compliance with state and federal standards.
The district's complete, updated management plan for material containing asbestos in school
buildings shall be available for inspection in district and school offices during normal business
hours. Parent, teacher and employee organizations shall annually be informed of the availability
of this plan (Title 40 Code of Federal Regulations, Section 763.93).
(cf. BP 300.22 - District Records)
(cf. BP 300.56 - Parental Notifications)
Other Environmental Safety Precautions
Principals or their designees shall enforce school rules designed to:
1.
Prevent the accumulation of flammable, noxious or otherwise dangerous materials unless
adequate safeguards are provided.
2.
Keep all school facilities free of debris.
3. Keep walkways at all times open to pedestrian traffic and clear of obstructions.
AR 603.17
Page 7 of 7
ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
Administrative Regulations
Legal Reference:
EDUCATION CODE
17366
Legislative intent (fitness of buildings for occupancy)
17582
Deferred maintenance fund
17590
Asbestos abatement fund
17608-17613 Healthy Schools Act of 2000
32240-32245 Lead-Safe Schools Protection Act
48980.3
Notification of pesticides
49410-49410.7 Asbestos materials containment or removal
FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL CODE
11401-12408 Pest Control Operations and Agricultural Chemicals
13180-13188 Healthy Schools Act of 2000
GOVERNMENT CODE
3543.2
Scope of representation; right to negotiate safety conditions
CODE OF REGULATIONS, TITLE 8
340-340.2
Employer's obligation to provide safety information
1532.1
Construction safety orders, lead standard
5142
Heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems; minimum ventilation
5143
Mechanical ventilating systems; inspection and maintenance
CODE OF REGULATIONS, TITLE 17
35001-35099 Accreditation in Lead Abatement Services
UNITED STATES CODE, TITLE 7
136-136y
Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodentcide Act
UNITED STATES CODE, TITLE 15
2641-2656
Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act
CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS, TITLE 40
763.93
Management Plans
763.94
Record keeping
Other References:
Indoor Air Quality, A Guide for Educators (1995). California Department of Education
Air Now. A Cross Agency U.S. Government Website at http://www.airnow.gov/
California Air Resources Board at http://www.arb.ca.gov/homepage.htm
Policy Adopted: November 9, 1993
Revision Approved: February 28, 2006
Revision Approved: October 8, 2009