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What
is the School Safety Program?
The
mission of the School Safety program is to assure that K-12 schools in
Cowlitz County are constructed and operating in compliance with
state safety and health regulations (WAC 246-336 - Primary and
Secondary Schools). The
Environmental Health Department accomplishes this mission by
reviewing plans for the construction of new schools and the remodeling of
older facilities, as well as inspecting all primary and
secondary (both public and private)
schools in in regard to these regulations.
The maintenance
supervisor of each
school receives a "Tools for Schools" kit during each
inspection of the school grounds. This kit includes information on installing,
maintaining and
monitoring health and
safety factors for the educational facility.
Inspectors evaluate the
safety and adequacy of sports and playground equipment, chemical storage rooms,
kitchen facilities, scientific laboratories, ventilation systems, metal
and wood working shops and
art rooms. They also evaluate kitchen facilities for
compliance to food safety
regulations (WAC 246-215 and 246-217), and swimming pools for their
conformity to recreational water safety regulations (WAC 246-260 and
WAC 246-262). Potential safety hazards are identified for both
students and faculty. The overall safety of the academic
environment is evaluated.
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