Environmental Quality of Buildings and Grounds

The superintendent shall take all reasonable measures to protect: (1) the safety of District personnel, students, and visitors on District premises from risks associated with hazardous materials, and (2) the environmental quality of the District’s buildings and grounds.

Pesticides

Pesticides will not be applied on the paved surfaces, playgrounds, or playing fields of any school serving grades K-8 during a school day or partial school day when students are in attendance for instructional purposes. Additionally, the application of any restricted use pesticides is prohibited on or within 500 feet of school property during normal school hours. Before pesticides are used on District premises, the superintendent or designee shall notify employees and parents/guardians of students as required by the Structural Pest Control Act, 225 ILCS 235/, and the Lawn Care Products Application and Notice Act, 415 ILCS 65/.

Coal Tar Sealant

Before coal tar-based sealant products or high polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon sealant products are used on District premises, the Superintendent or designee shall notify employees and parents/guardians of students in writing or by telephone as required by the Coal Tar Sealant Disclosure Act.

Hazardous Materials

The superintendent or a designee shall prepare a list of toxic substances used by District employees and develop procedures for their proper and safe containment and use. The list of toxic substances must include those contained in the definition of “toxic substance” in the Toxic Substances Disclosure to Employees Act as well as those listed in Illinois Department of Labor regulations.

The superintendent is directed to provide District personnel with procedures and training on the purchase, storage, use, transportation, and disposal of hazardous materials. Emergency response and evacuation plans will be a part of the procedures.

District staff shall substitute non-hazardous material for hazardous substances whenever possible and minimize the quantity of hazardous substances stored in school facilities. No art or craft material containing a toxic substance shall be ordered or purchased for use in kindergarten through grade 6; material containing toxic substances may be used in grades 7 through 12 only if properly labeled according to state law.

The Superintendent or a designee shall ensure that before the staff member begins a position requiring work with hazardous or toxic materials on a regular basis, the staff member will attend an approved training course on safe handling and use of such materials as required by 105 ILCS 5/10-20.17a.

Infectious Materials

The Buildings and Grounds Supervisor shall prepare and distribute to all employees an Occupational Exposure Control Plan to eliminate or minimize occupational exposure to potentially infectious materials. The Plan shall comply with the Bloodborne Pathogens Standards adopted by state and federal regulatory agencies and an updated copy given to the Superintendent annually. The Plan shall address the following issues:

  1. Exposure determination. Positions that do not subject the employee to occupational exposure are generally exempt from the Plan and the Standards.
  2. Implementation schedule specifying how and when the risks are to be reduced. The Standards are very specific on risks reduction, e.g., Universal Precautions must be followed; engineering and work practice controls are specified (hand washing, restricted food areas); personal protection equipment must be provided; housekeeping requirements are specified (regulated waste disposal and laundry); vaccination requirements (all employees who have occupational exposure must be offered, at employer expense, the hepatitis B vaccine and vaccination series); communication of hazards to employees through labeling and training; and recordkeeping.
  3. Process for ensuring that all medical evaluations and procedures, including the hepatitis B vaccine and vaccination series and post-exposure evaluation and follow- up, are available as required by law.
  4. Procedures for evaluating an exposure incident.

Adopted: April 20, 1998
Revised: June 17, 2019; February 26, 2024