7 minute read
A culture of co-operation
By Jillian Mitchell
It’s been said that it takes a village to raise a child. Fittingly, the School Safety Association of British Columbia (SSABC) i aims for that spirit of co-operation as an association committed to the safety of staff and students working and learning in school districts across the province.
From playground safety to storage and disposal of hazardous chemicals, safety concerns in the education sector require careful consideration. Fortunately, the SSABC stays on top of its game.
“We know the challenges we have on our desks, but you never know what’s coming around the corner,” says SSABC president Collette O’Reilly of School District No. 39 (Vancouver). “In terms of occupational health and safety, it’s constantly changing and expanding. It’s a fascinating area of work and very rewarding.”
With membership from more than 29 of the province’s school districts, the collective of occupational health and safety professionals has proudly partnered with likeminded associations to augment its initiatives, services and resources.
In 1996, four school districts collaborated to comply with the then new federal legislation called MSDSfetch regarding safety information for hazardous chemicals. A WHMIS-compliant industry standard, MSDSfetch has evolved to support many municipalities, school districts and other public organizations.
In its time, this novel fax-back system, designed by SSABC current vicepresident Terry Gomez of School District No. 41 (Burnaby), was forward-thinking. As a collective, the districts sought and gained WorkSafeBC approval that such a system complied with the requirements. This strategic partnership was the seed from which the SSABC was born in 1999, and the association has sought out additional collaborations ever since.
The School Safety Association of British Columbia (SSABC) was formerly known as the British Columbia School Safety Association (BCSSA).
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WOrkSAFEBC
The SSABC has always worked alongside WorkSafeBC to aid in their understanding of the education sector’s unique nature and safety challenges. The SSABC is currently working closely with WorkSafeBC’s K-12 interest group on several identified areas of concern in occupational safety and health, from early return to work to violence in the workplace. O’Reilly reveals that one of the hot topics arising is the Recover at control functionality. Menu 14º Work and Day 1 Services initiative.
“This is the next generation of returnto-work programs where you look at whether it’s possible for some injured workers to recover at work and stay at work,” says O’Reilly. “It’s a large philosophical shift in terms of where WorkSafeBC sees the future of this area.”
The process involves working with injured staff members and their practitioners on accommodations and modifica-
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“Other past collaborations between the SSABC and WorkSafeBC have included the Clean Sweep, a pocket resource for custodians to have fast access to ergonomic alternatives to working safe in their various tasks,” says O’Reilly, adding custodians are one of the most at-risk professions among school district employees for occupational musculoskeletal injuries. “There is a more recent move to convert the Clean Sweep document and contents into an online accessible resource.”
SSABC continues to reach out and collaborate with other education sector associations such as the British Columbia Association of School Business Officials (BCASBO). O’Reilly shares that SSABC will be participating in the 2015 BCASBO AGM (annual general meeting). She looks forward to sharing expertise between its members and those of BCASBO.
“BCASBO represents the financial and administrative side of operating school districts across B.C.,” O’Reilly clarifies. “BCASBO is an extremely influential association and a good affiliation for us to be making.”
Since 1999, the safety association has fostered a long-standing partnership with the Educational Facility Managers Association of British Columbia (EFMA B.C.). Similarly, as EFMA evolved from the School Plant Officials Association of British Columbia (SPOA B.C.), the SSABC is the evolution of the British Columbia School Safety Association (BCSSA).
Members from both associations have indeed benefited from the partnership. One such benefit is the regularly scheduled joint professional-development sessions on the industry’s pressing issues, including auto shop safety,
violence in the workplace and bullying and harassment regulations.
“There are many EFMA members who have responsibilities in their districts for occupational health and safety,” O’Reilly points out, “so it’s a pretty natural fit for the two of us to have come together.”
SCHOOlS PrOtECtIOn PrOGrAM
The Schools Protection Program’s core purpose is to provide coverage to school districts against loss and liability and to act as a risk management advisor. The SPP advisory committee meets annually to review claims and discuss current and upcoming challenges faced by school districts. Along with EFMA, BCASBO, the Ministry of Education, the British Columbia School Trustees Association, the British Columbia School Superintendents Association and the British Columbia Principals’ and Vice-Principals’ Association, the SSABC is a proud partner of the SPP advisory committee.
“We bring to the SPP a focus on the safety aspects, prevention, in our facilities and in the work that our staff do in delivering safe education to students,” says O’Reilly.
yOutHSAFE OutDOOrS
In an effort to promote participation in sports and outdoor activities, the YouthSafe Outdoors (YSO) initiative was created
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with the help of 19 advisory groups, including the SSABC. O’Reilly says that this co-operative venture resulted in a provincial standard for educational field trips and outdoor pursuits.
“Essentially what YouthSafe Outdoors provides school districts and individual staff members is a place to go to find out, for any given outdoor student pursuit, what level of supervision is recommended, what protective equipment is recommended, what level of instructor qualification is recommended,” she adds.
nEW SSABC WEBSItE
In addition to outreach and affiliation initiatives, the SSABC has launched a new website (www.schoolsafetybc.ca). The site, which contains both public access and members-only areas, will focus on resources such as safety, emergency preparedness and management, health and hazard assessment. Members will also be able to access information pertinent to on-the-job issues, as well as job postings, event postings and updates on various outreach initiatives.
O’Reilly adds that the association’s site is an integral part in the SSABC’s goal to effectively communicate relevant health and safety information to its members and the education sector as a whole.
“Every avenue that we can explore to have conversations with our peers, exchange best practices and problem solve new regulations is beneficial,” she says.
For more information, contact the association directly at info@ schoolsafetybc.ca.
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i Formerly the British Columbia School Safety Association
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