OSHA Guidelines for Schools
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, commonly referred to as OSHA, is run by the United States Department of Labor and provides safety and health standards for workplaces. Their reach is nationwide, and nearly all working adults in the United States are covered under their jurisdiction. OSHA has specific standards for construction and maritime workers; most other workers, including school employees, fall under the category of general industry.
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Sanitation
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Schools and other general industry workplaces must be kept reasonably clean to prevent illness and infection. Garbage cans must be cleaned and emptied regularly and should have a tight-fitting cover, unless the receptacle can be emptied often enough to not require one. Any school suspecting or experiencing a problem with rodents or insects must institute an extermination program that continues until the problem has been resolved. Locker rooms, bathrooms, laboratories and any other room where water is expected on the floor must have proper drainage that is cleaned and maintained regularly, and mats or platforms for dry, non-slip standing must be provided.
Walking and Working Surfaces
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Walking and working surfaces standards apply to hallways, staircases, loading docks and any hole or pit resulting from construction. Staircases that don't have walls on either side must have a railing consisting of a top rail, intermediate rail and vertical posts and should be at least 42 inches high. Enclosed stairways must have a bracket-mounted handrail between 30 and 34 inches above the stair tread. Any pits or floor holes must be covered completely with material that won't give way under adult human weight. When the cover is not in place, the opening must be constantly guarded.
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Fire Prevention Plans
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Employers must have written fire prevention plans available to employees. The plan must include a list of all major fire hazards as well as proper storage procedures for any hazardous materials. In a school this would commonly be applied to chemicals used in cleaning or in a laboratory as well as any heat supply that posed a threat. Information on the type of fire prevention and suppression for each hazard must be detailed in the prevention plan. Emergency evacuation procedures in case of fire or natural disaster must be thoroughly outlined and made accessible in visible locations around the school.
Mandatory Reporting and Complaints
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If an employee dies or more than two employees become hospitalized because of a work-related incident, employers are required to report the situation to OSHA within 8 hours either in person or over the phone. If employers fail to follow OSHA standards or report incidents, employees are encouraged to report themselves. Specific laws are in place giving employees the right to blow the whistle on their employer without fearing retribution in the form of being fired, demoted, blacklisted, intimidated or otherwise disciplined. Employees may file an anonymous complaint and request an OSHA inspection in person, over the phone or through email and fax.
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