Why Develop a Program? A chemical cleanout and prevention program will: Protect the health and safety of children and school personnel Demonstrate community leadership Improve your local schools Protect the environment Prevent fires and spills Successful cleanout and prevention pro- grams are customized to meet the specif- ic needs of the community. You can be a key player in a program's success by: Raising community awareness of chemical problems in schools Providing safe chemical use and management training Offering technical assistance for these programs Assisting schools in arranging for and carrying out proper disposal Partnering with other organizations to achieve program goals Community Partners ,1 8 II •o o ' 111 Z> LU : •F «s i± | o 2 •5 =1= CD -? O Q- What's Stake? From elementary school mainte- nance closets to high school chem- istry labs, schools house a variety of chemicals. Every year, throughout the country, hundreds of thousands of dollars are spent on K-12 school accidents involving chemicals, which in some cases have been unused for decades. When improperly used or stored, chemicals can put students, staff, and the community at risk from spills, explosions, or other accidental exposure. Chemicals Found in Schools Explosives « Picric Acid Corrosives ••* Acetic Acid Flammables Paint Thinner Toxics « Lead and Mercury ------- What Can You Do? Organizations like yours, local business- es, and government, shape the commu- nity. You can be a leader by partnering with organizations such as emergency response teams and your local school district to help create safer schools. You can develop a school chemical cleanout program with these goals in mind: Removing dangerous chemicals from K-12 schools Preventing future chemical, environmental health and safety issues Raising awareness of the issues related to dangerous chemicals in schools Working to keep children and school personnel safe: The Schools Chemical Cleanout Campaign To learn more please visit: www.epa.gov/sc3 o Chemical Suppliers • Provide technical assistance Provide full service chemical management Waste Handlers w • Offer cost-effective waste analysis and handling solutions Fire, Police, and Emergency Response Learn about chemical risks in schools Assist schools in developing chemical management and emergency response plans Establish effective communication with schools Colleges and Universities Work with schools in assessing chemical cleanout, management and disposal issues Offer courses and training in environmental health and safety for teachers and school district employees Environment, Health, and Education Agencies Fund school chemical cleanout and prevention programs Provide technical assistance to schools in conducting chemical inventories and cleanouts In the News: School Partnerships in Rhode Island Rhode Island (Rl) formed the Chemical Safe Schools Committee, which includes Rl Departments of Health, Labor, Education and Environmental Management; Brown University; Rl Committee on Occupational Safety and Health; Community College of Rhode Island; and Miriam Hospital. They are work- ing together to help schools min- imize the health, safety and envi- ronmental risks associated with chemicals in schools.Through the efforts of this committee more than 800 hazardous chemi- cals are no longer allowed in schools.The committee created a handbook on laboratory safety, reviewed chemical inventories, conducted training, and helped clean out a number of schools. For more information on other Healthy School Environment issues, visit: www.epa.gov/schools ------- |