This week Wendy Couture, the district’s safety and risk reduction manager, shares tips about winter safety.

Winter Safety

The time to devise a winter safety plan is long before the cold weather hits. Frequently, when people think of winter safety, they only think of snow and ice. In the Pacific Northwest, severe wind and rain storms can often be as debilitating. Flooding, mud slides and downed trees frequently affect our ability to perform our jobs and pose the threat of accidents and injury.

The most important things to keep in mind about Winter Safety is to stay informed and keep us informed.

Stay Informed:  Make sure you have access to accurate information about weather conditions before you leave home. Early in the morning, generally before 6 a.m., our district staff contacts the Public Schools Emergency System to alert all media outlets in the event of school closures or late starts. The district also contacts families through its automated calling/email system and posts weather-related closures or late starts on the district website and its social media pages. Check the OSD website, social media, northwest TV stations and local radio stations (KGY, KXXO/MIXX) for the latest information.

Keep us Informed:  We depend on you to notify your supervisor, custodian or maintenance personnel if you see a winter hazard so we can make corrections as quickly as possible. Additionally, please keep your phone and email contact information up-to-date with the district.

Winter Wise Words…

We all need to think about preventing weather-related slips, trips and fall hazards in a proactive manner. Slippery surfaces, unrecognizable ice and frost, can cause a loss of traction that can send you to the ground in a hurry.

Tips for getting to and from activities on walkways and in parking lots:

• Wear the proper shoes and socks; perhaps hiking boots with proper tread. If you need to wear dress shoes pack them in a bag.
• Another layer of insurance for your feet is a set of tire chains or ice cleats for your shoes and boots. Retailers sell single pairs of snow and ice spike shoe/boot covers starting at about $7.
• Whether it’s navigating your way around a bus in the dark at the transportation facility or crossing a parking lot to get to a building, slow down to observe your surroundings.
• Minimize how much you carry. It is harder to navigate ice when you cannot see over things in your arms… and it’s harder to balance with a heavy load.
• Park strategically. Look for an area with no incline. Evaluate your walk to the building. Follow the path made by custodians or look for the least slippery route.
• Avoid snow pile runoff that has frozen overnight. Melting snow may look like water but can be an icy hazard.
• Make sure to use the building wipe-off mats to remove water and snow from your boots as you enter a building.

Be Safe!

This week Wendy Couture, the district’s safety and risk reduction manager, shares tips about ladder safety in the workplace.

Ladder Safety – Three Points of Contact

During this time of year decorations can be a very important part of the classroom and putting up decorations may include climbing a ladder. When climbing a ladder, it is safest to use “Three Points-of-Contact” because it minimizes your chance of slipping and falling from the ladder.  At all times during ascending, descending and working on a ladder, you should face the ladder. Keeping two hands and one foot, or two feet and one hand in contact with the ladder steps, rungs and/or side rails.  In this way, you will be less likely to be unstable in the event you slip during climbing.  It is important to note that you should not carry any objects in either hand that can interfere with your grip on the ladder. If you are unable to grip and maintain “Three Points-of-Contact” with the ladder, the chance of falling is increased.

Some factors contribute to falls from ladders such as haste, worn condition of the ladder and your footwear.

Improper climbing posture can create clumsiness and may cause falls. Reduce your chances of falling during climbing by:

• Wearing slip-resistant shoes.
• Cleaning the soles of shoes to maximize traction.
• Using an assistant to carry materials so that your hands are free when climbing.
• Climbing slowly and deliberately and avoiding sudden movements.
• Never attempting to move a ladder while standing on it.
• Keeping the center of your belt buckle (stomach) between the ladder side rails when climbing and working. Do not overreach or lean while working so that you don’t fall off the ladder sideways or pull the ladder over sideways while standing on it.
• Making sure the ladder is placed on level secure ground before climbing.
• Making sure you do not step on the top rung on the ladder and that you choose a ladder that is the adequate size for your project.
• Not placing ladders in front of doors where the door can be opened and knock the ladder over. Otherwise the door will need to blocked, locked or guarded.

This week Wendy Couture, the district’s safety and risk reduction manager, shares tips about decoration safety in the workplace.

During this time of year decorations can be a very important part of the classroom or office area. Decorations enliven the classroom and serve an instructional purpose. Safety is especially important during this time of year for students, teachers and visitors. Here are some common safety tips for decorating the classroom.

• Classroom exits should be clear and not blocked by obstructions.
• Exit signs for emergency window exits should be visible at all times.
• Use flame retardant decorations whenever possible.
• Decorative items should not be suspended or hanging from fire sprinkler heads.
• Decorative or instructional items should not be suspended from classroom ceiling lights.
• Materials stored on top of shelves or cabinets should not be closer than 18″ to automatic sprinkler heads.
• Mount decorations within reach of the floor for easy and safe access and to limit the risk of falling.
• If decorations do need to be mounted higher than standard reaching height remember to use a step stool and not a chair or desk.
• Never place staples or nails through strings of lights, power cords, or extension cords as it could damage the cord and present a fire hazard. Make sure cords do not dangle from counters and tabletops where they can be pulled or tripped over.
• Do not overload electrical outlets.
• Do not use any type of decoration that has an open flame.
• Make sure that any illuminated items are turned off when you leave your work area so there is no risk of fire breaking out when the building is unattended.

Whether classroom decorations are used to celebrate a holiday, promote a learning concept or showcase an achievement, it is critical to keep safety in mind so the classroom learning environment is enhanced and does not become hazardous.