Other Health & Safety Concerns

Below are some additional Health & Safety issues that might be of concern to ETFO Thames Valley Teacher Local Members. 

Air Quality

Inadequate or poorly maintained ventilation systems can contribute to several hazards (temperature concerns, mould, CO2 levels, other air contaminants). Not only does this pose a health and safety concern for everyone in the building, but studies have also demonstrated that students’ ability to learn and concentrate is affected by CO2 concentration due to poor ventilation.

Some signs of concern with indoor air quality are easy to see: a puddle on the floor or damp ceiling tiles tell you there is moisture or a leak somewhere which could lead to mould growth, or a vent caked in dust might raise questions about how clean the ducts and filters are. But other concerns aren’t as obvious: a buildup of CO2 because insufficient outside air is coming in, or airborne viruses that aren’t being removed by a proper ventilation system. Inspections, maintenance, and air quality assessments are all a part of making sure the air we breathe is safe.

Poor ventilation has always represented a risk to staff and students. Improved ventilation is necessary to keep us safe from airborne hazards. 

Chemical Hazards
Electrical Hazards 

If a piece of electrical equipment at your school doesn’t look safe, it probably isn’t. Electrical hazards include,  

  • frayed electrical cords
  • overloaded power bars
  • damaged ground pins
  • daisy-chained extension cords, or
  • damaged or poorly repaired electric appliances

Any electrical equipment in a school should be provided by the employer, should be in good repair, and should meet CSA standards. The electrical equipment at your school must be kept in good condition.  When you see an electrical hazard, report the hazard to your principal.

Your Principal is required to investigate and deal with your report. Tell your Steward and your school’s Health and Safety Representative about your concerns. 

Heat Stress Plans
Infectious Diseases

Respiratory infectious diseases such as COVID-19, influenza and RSV spread easily
through airborne or respiratory droplets. Respiratory transmission rates are trending
upwards as of the week ending September 7, 2024. Staff, students and parents with
symptoms should follow guidance from their local public health authority. Current public
health guidance includes:

  • staying home if you are sick to prevent transmission to others
  • you should stay home until all of the following apply to you:
  • your symptoms have been improving for at least 24 hours, or 48 hours if your symptoms include nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
  • you do not have a fever
  • you do not develop any additional symptoms for ten days after your symptoms started, wearing a tight-fitting, well-constructed mask is also encouraged

Please see the poster attached provided by the Middlesex-London Health unit for self isolation periods for COVID-19 and Flu symptoms.

The Middlesex-London Health Unit and Southwestern Public Health have also created a Guide to Common Childhood Infections (see attached) that includes information and guidance on signs and symptoms, stopping spread, and when to exclude and how to report.

The guide includes a quick reference for exclusion of staff/students for certain diseases and symptoms, such as diarrhea, conjunctivitis (pink eye), strep throat, impetigo, and influenza.

Some childhood diseases are diseases of public health significance and must be reported to the local public health unit, for example, Influenza, Chickenpox, Whooping Cough, and Measles. Under the Ontario Regulation 135/18 and Reg. 569 under the Health Protection and Promotion Act R.S.O 1990 Chapter H.7 - “if a principal of a school or an operator of an institution, such as a day care, has knowledge of, or suspects that a child in their school or day care has a reportable disease, they must monitor and report to the local public health unit.” The Reportable Disease Notification Form and reporting timelines are available on the local public health website.

The CCOHS – Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety provides guidance
and tip sheets for respiratory infectious diseases that include tips for educational services,
such as:

  • communicate to all worker, parents, guardians, and visitors that anyone (including children) with symptoms of a respiratory disease (even mild symptoms) should not enter or stay on the premises
  • contact parents or guardians to arrange for pick-up as soon as possible after a student or child develops symptoms of a respiratory infectious disease

It is also important to provide clean air in schools through improved ventilation in buildings to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. For example, the Board already uses MERV13 filters. Guidance also suggests the use of portable HEPA filter units to supplement building ventilation systems, with regular filter changes according to the manufacturers' guidelines.

The use of HEPA units, running continuously, can remove 99.97% of airborne particles (spores, bacteria) to help prevent the spread of respiratory infectious disease (source – CCOHS).

The Board has an Independent Procedure - #9046 – Communicable Disease Procedure - Employees, that states that the Board will take every reasonable precaution to prevent the transmission of communicable and infectious disease. The procedure is to be followed to reduce the spread of infection among staff and students.

Documents:

Lead in Drinking Water

The Ontario drinking water quality standard, based on the National Health Canada guideline is 5 micrograms per liter. Even small amounts of lead can be harmful, especially to infants, young children and pregnant women.  

The Ontario Safe Drinking Water Act (Reg. 243/07 Schools, Private Schools and Day Nurseries) requires school boards to flush the cold water plumbing on a daily or weekly basis (depending on previous testing results and other factors), maintain flushing logs, take annual water samples, and report drinking water test results to the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MOECC). The testing results are generally available each fall since this testing tends to occur in the summer months. In addition to immediate notification to all staff of all concerning adverse results, the Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC) is entitled to obtain the following from the Employer:

  • consultation about any future water testing, and an opportunity for a worker member of a JHSC to attend at the beginning of testing
  • technical information about the type and maintenance of filtration systems installed on plumbed water coolers or drinking fountains.

Any staff member with concerns has the right to request information from their Principal/Supervisor or discuss strategies with the worker members of their JHSC.

Mould

Mould can grow in any building, but it is usually related to excess moisture. Mould doesn’t have to be visible for there to be concern. Health and safety inspections should include looking for dampness and ensure that maintenance is being done on the HVAC systems (or other forms of ventilation) which help prevent high humidity. Concerns should be addressed before mould can be seen and before it impacts worker health.

Some moulds are more dangerous than others because they produce toxic substances. But all moulds can produce allergens. The symptoms can be more severe in the vulnerable (children, elderly people, those with weakened immune systems) or people with allergies, asthma or other respiratory concerns. A rise in allergic reactions or asthma symptoms should be a red flag to ask about indoor air quality. 

The best way to stay safe is to prevent mould in the first place. Report leaks, dampness or humidity concerns to your Administrator and your Health and Safety Representative.  

Psychosocial Hazards

Being mindful of your own mental health is important for you to be able to do your job well. There is an increasing understanding of the impact that workload, burnout, and school violence can have on the psychological well-being of teachers. What isn’t as widely understood is that mental health challenges brought on by work experiences are “psychological injuries” and should be reported in the same way as any workplace injury.

If you are dealing with psychosocial hazards in the workplace, reach out to your local office for support in addressing them. If you are struggling with your own mental health, seek out support, and in case of an emergency go to the nearest emergency department.

Slips, Trips and Falls

What’s underfoot on floors, stairs, sidewalks, playgrounds and parking lots can cause serious injuries like broken bones and concussion. Report these slippery, uneven or broken surfaces to your principal as slip, trip and fall hazards. It’s your principal’s job to ensure that these surfaces are in good condition – both inside and outside the building. It’s the principal’s job to investigate and deal with your report.

Your Principal is also responsible for providing staff with ladder safety training and access to approved ladders or step stools. Tell your Steward and your school’s Health and Safety Representative about your concerns. Get in touch with your ETFO local for more support.