EmployeeSafe Suite: Chemical Safety

In Maple Grove, Minnesota, four students were taken to the hospital after their ninth grade science teacher Matt Anchor dropped a match into a jug of methanol. According to a recent article on CBS Minnesota online, the students were taken to Hennepin County Medical Center to be treated for burns, but it is not clear if the students suffered chemical burns or were burned by fire. Fifteen-year-old Dane Neuberger stated that his face was actually on fire. Neuberger was seated in front of the demonstration, along with three other students, when the incident occurred.

Incidents like those at Maple Grove can leave school staff, parents and students distressed and wondering, “How could this situation have been prevented?” When handling dangerous chemicals, it is important for staff to be aware of all potential hazards. PSW’s Chemical Safety Course focuses on the importance of classifying chemicals based on their hazards and to predict how they will react in any given situation in order to control potentially hazardous situations. Does your staff receive training on how to handle potentially harmful chemicals? Share your comments with us on Twitter @PSWORKS.

Source: CBS Local News

StudentWatch Suite:

In recent news, one Massachusetts school was honored by Northeastern University for its efforts in battling bullying. Robert Adams Middle School was one of five schools recognized at the Stand Up 2011 anti-bullying rally with a Stand Up Award for Outstanding Anti-Bullying Programs. The award was given to the Robert Adams students by former Boston Bruin Hockey player Bob Sweeney. Also in attendance at the event were more than 4,000 students from about 150 Massachusetts schools.

What positive steps has your district taken to combat bullying? Providing your staff with training on bullying prevention is a great first step in combatting bullying. With PublicSchoolWORKS Bullying Prevention - Basics for Educators course, school staff are provided with useful information and practical applications to recognize and respond to instances of bullying. The course covers what to do when you suspect bullying, what to do when you confirm that bullying has happened, intervention, monitoring, follow-up intervention and bullying prevention.


Source: Holliston News Online

Spotlight: School Safety

At Classen School of Advanced Studies in Oklahoma, three girls were almost crushed to death when they went into an elevator shaft to see if they could open the doors from the inside. According to the Huffington Post, when the girls tried to leave the elevator, they accidentally hit the elevator call button which brought the elevator down on top of them. Oklahoma City Public Schools has stated that they are taking the incident seriously, a local television station KFOR reported. According to the article, the district implied that inspections for this elevator were not taking place on a regular schedule.

It is important for schools to ensure that proper inspections are taking place on the schedule recommended by the elevator manufacturer and that they have the documentation of inspections in order to foster a safe school environment. In addition, it is important for districts to provide a mechanism for staff to report safety concerns and to track these concerns to ensure that they are addressed.

With PublicSchoolWORKS’ Staff Safety Reporting System and its Reporting a Safety Hazard course, districts can ensure that the systems are in place to quickly deal with safety issues. The Staff Safety Reporting System provides staff with the means to report any and all safety issues and helps administrators to track safety issues to resolution. The Reporting a Safety Hazard course helps staff recognize the value of reporting safety issues and encourages them to report quickly so issues can be resolved. Does your staff have an effective means to report safety concerns? Share your stories with us on Twitter @PSWORKS.

Source: The Huffington Post

StudentWatch Suite: Bullying

According to a news report on ABC, a 15-year old Ohio student was brutally attacked by his fellow classmate because of his sexual orientation. According to the news report, the attacker waited for the student to enter the classroom and then began to repeatedly punch the student in the head. The attack was caught on video and resulted in two broken teeth for the victim. The boy’s mother, Rebecca Collins of Chillicothe, OH, has filed charges. The victim later reported that previous incidences of bullying toward him had taken place at his school.


With increases in the number of bullying reports and the seriousness of bullying incidents taking place, it is important for districts to provide tool for students and for students to know that these tools are available. With PublicSchoolWORKS’ Bullying - Tell Someone video, districts drive home the message that bullying will not be tolerated and encourages students to report bullying concerns. With PublicSchoolWORKS’ Bullying Reporting System, districts provide students with a means to report issues before they escalate. What kind of tools does your district offer to encourage students to speak out against bullying? Share your thoughts with us on Twitter @PSWORKS.

Source: ABC News

Spotlight: Student Safety

The Hicksville Illustrated News Online reported that the quick action of one science teacher was able to save a student from a choking incident. Seventh-grade student Kenneth Goubran of Hicksville Middle School was in the cafeteria of his school when a mozzarella stick became lodged in his throat. Seeing this, science teacher Joseph Surgot came to the boy’s aid and performed the Heimlich maneuver. Surgot performed the maneuver twice and was able to dislodge the food from Goubrans’ throat. Surgot was commended for this heroic act by Superintendent Maureen Bright at a district-wide conference day.

The quick action of this teacher and his training in the Heimlich Maneuver helped ensure the safety of a student. It is important for all staff to receive training like this so they can come to the aid of students when need be. With PublicSchoolWORKS’ Heimlich Maneuver course, staff can learn the signs of chocking and the proper procedures to act if and when a student experiences a chocking incident. Has anyone on your staff intervened in a critical situation that resulted in a positive outcome for one or your students? Share your stories with us on Twitter @PSWORKS

Source: Hicksville Illustrated News

EmployeeSafe: Termination Policies and Procedures

According to a recent article in the Chicago Tribune, a Hoffman Estates High School math teacher resigned after school officials were notified by a social worker that she was living with a student. The living arrangement was made when the male student learned that his mother was moving out of the Hoffman Estates area. The parent and teacher agreed to have the student move in with the teacher in order to keep him at the school. The teacher did not notify school officials about this agreement and according to a district spokesperson the teacher was in violation of board policy regarding Prohibition of Sexual Contact and Sexual Involvement with Students. The Department of Children and Family Services found out about the living situation and immediately removed the student from the teacher’s home. The teacher was placed on "emergency suspension" without pay.

It is important to educate staff on the all board policies and procedures, as well as required reporting of issues related to students in order to promote an environment of safety. With PublicSchoolWORKS’ EmployeeSafe Suite, staff will learn board policies and procedures related to staff conduct. Is your staff informed of the proper policies and procedures regarding student interaction? How do you promote an environment of safety for your students? Share your comments on our Facebook page.


Source: Chicago Tribune

EmployeeSafe: Spotlight on Safety Document Management System

With the new school year comes the need to document safety procedures. Check out PublicSchoolWORKS’ (PSW) Safety Document Management System, part of the award-winning EmployeeSafe Suite. The Staff Safety Management System includes a complete library of written safety compliance forms, plans and other recordkeeping documents necessary to meet and ensure compliance with local, state and federal safety requirements. It also features:

• Safety Document-On-Demand Management System
• Safety Inspections & Checklists
• Written Plans & Programs
• Regulations Library
• Shared Customer Document Library

To learn more about PSW’s Safety Document Management System, email sales@publicschoolworks.com