SCHOOL RENOVATIONS QUESTIONS - KEEP OUR KIDS & STAFF SAFE

When school buildings are being renovated, parents and grandparents MUST be concerned about the welfare of the building occupants, our children, teachers, and staff.

The construction workers are protected under Occupational Safety and Health Administration [OSHA] standards, but there are no OSHA standards for children. We need to fix this!

Here are some very important questions to ask adminstrators, school board members, and the construction company prior to school renovations:
These questions are adapted from the Healthy Schools Network and the EPA.

#1. Is there a plan for the safety and health of the occupants [the children, teachers, and staff] during the renovations? If so, what are those plans?

#2. How quickly will the administration or the builders be to complaints relating to occupant safety and health issues as they arise?

#3. When construction is going on in an occupied building, are its occupants, our children and staff, informed of the protocol involved in reporting a problem regarding their health and safety?
#4. Are the building occupants empowered to advocate for their own health and safetly without fear of retribution, reprimand, loss of job, etc.?

#5. How will the chemical fumes, gases, dust, and other contaminants that are in the air during construction be controlled?

#6. How will dust, debris, asbestos fibers, and dust contaminated poisonous toxins such as lead from paint, be prevented from entering the occupied parts of the building where your children and your teachers are working?

#7. How does the ventilation system work? Will it be sealed off to prevent toxic fumes and particulant matter from entering the air while your children are in class?

#8. Will the Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning [HVAC] system be thoroughly cleaned after construction? If not – WHY? The particulate matter that has collected in the ventilation system will blow contaminated dust and debris into the newly renovated classrooms if not thoroughly cleaned. Regular cleaning should be demanded of our schools. The routine changing of filters is NOT enough.

#9. Will the school be constructed with materials that will give off gasses, fumes, and volatile organic compounds [VOC’s]. Examples of VOC's are: formaldehyde glue, paint thinners, and cleaning chemicals, chemicals used in plastics, carpeting? These materials can off-gas for years after construction.

#10. How will the noise pollution be controlled so your children are guaranteed the right of an environment conducive to learning? Parents and building occupants have the Right To Know what the building occupants are being exposed to and what their children are breathing.