1. As part of its mission, “…to protect human health and the environment, ” EPA is working...
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Transcript of 1. As part of its mission, “…to protect human health and the environment, ” EPA is working...
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As part of its mission, “…to protect human health and the environment, ” EPA is working with various partners, including schools, to share information, resources and tools about Healthy Schools and the importance of environmental health issues.
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Family/Community Involvement
Health Education
Health Promotion for Staff
Healthy School
Environment
Health Services
Physical Education
Counseling, Psychological and Social Services
Nutrition Services
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The average child and over 6 million adults nationally spend at least nine hours a day and over 1,200 hours each year in
or around a school building.
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EPA’s Healthy Schools Initiative was created to provide accessible resources/tools to prevent and resolve environmental issues in schools.
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Landmark study by William Fisk and Arthur Rosenfeld
A clean building saves money and increases performance!
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Take-away messages:
What gets measured gets controlled or fixed.
You don’t know unless you look.
Find problems before they occur.
Reduce exposures.
Create a plan and build your team. !7
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Evaluate your school building often – it will reveal early warning signals.
Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools Action Kit
Tools for Schools (TfS) Action Kit :http://www.epa.gov/iaq/schools/actionkit.html
Call 1-800-490-9198 to order TfS kit
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Four key tips for a Healthy School
1. Provide Quality HVAC2. Control Moisture/Mold3. Cleaning and Maintenance4. Pollutant Source Control
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Healthy Schools Tip #1
Provide Quality HVACUse the Ventilation Checklist from the IAQ Tools for
Schools Action Kit
http://www.epa.gov/iaq/schools/actionkit.html
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Healthy Schools Tip #2Control Moisture/Mold
EPA HQ’s Mold website: http://www.epa.gov/mold
The publication "Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings” is available in HTML and PDF (56 pp., 1.6MB) [EPA 402-K-01-001, reprinted September 2008]
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Develop a Cleaning and Maintenance ProgramPurchase and use low-emitting products and use only
formaldehyde-free materials.
www.epa.gov/iaq/schools/clean_maintenance.html http://www.epa.gov/iaq/schools/envo_products.html
Healthy Schools Tip #3
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Create a plan for consistent school walkthrough inspections and implement the plan.
Test for radon. Mitigate if necessary.
Check for pests and manage pest control. Use the helpful School Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Checklist: http://www.epa.gov/iaq/schools/pdfs/kit/checklists/ipmcklst.pdf
Inventory and safely manage school chemicals. Use the following helpful resources for school plans:http://www.epa.gov/iaq/schools/chem_management.html
Implement an aggressive pollutant source control plan
Healthy Schools Tip #4
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Implement comprehensive tobacco-free schools policies.
Establish an anti-idling school bus policy.
Use walk-off mats at building entrances.
Helpful resources for school plans: www.epa.gov/iaq/schools/chem_management.html
Implement an aggressive pollutant source control plan
Healthy Schools Tip #4
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Examples of helpful survey forms used to
assess building concerns
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• Eye irritation• Headache• Sinus congestion• Nose irritation• Skin irritation• Fatigue
• Dry throat• Cough• Sneezing• Shortness of breath• Dizziness • Nausea
Warnings Signals and Common Health Impacts
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Chronic health effects and death
can result from exposures to:Rado
nCarbon
Monoxide
Lead
Asbestos
Tobacco SmokeChemical
s
Biologicals
VOCs17
Stressors That Cause Complaints Thermal discomfort Air pollutants (inside/outside) Odors Excess water/mildew/mold Poor ventilation Lighting and glare Poor acoustics Ergonomic problems Job-related problems
Understanding if the problem is a “building-related” problem
or an individual issue, or both, will help you best define a solution.
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STEP 1 Select an Assessment Coordinator
STEP 2 Complete a scheduled school walk-around assessment – Get constant feedback from staff and students throughout the year
STEP 3 Create an Assessment Plan
STEP 4Set priorities and take action
Remember these 4 EASY Planning STEPS
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No equipment – no problem
Start simple: Clipboard Pen Floor plan Put together a building floor plan (Include roof, basement, outside, grounds,
and all rooms) Create a checklist
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What you don’t monitor or measure – you don’t know!
You don’t know, unless you look.
Identify issues before they turn into problems.
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Save the “science projects” for investigation and diagnosing difficult problems
Measure what YOU can reasonably interpret !!
Temperature and
RH%
Tracer Smoke
CO2
CO
Moisture Meter
Light Meter
Particle Counter
Thermal Imager
If you have some funding – Consider these assessment tools:
Clipboard and
Assessment Checklist
What gets measured gets managed, controlled, fixed:
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Tool Kit items
Tracer smoke detector $ 50 Temperature and Relative Humidity detector $ 75Carbon Dioxide detector $ 450Carbon Monoxide detector $ 350 Thermal Imager $2,500Particle counter $3,500Moisture meter $ 300Light meter $ 30Decibel/noise meter $ 90
Total: ($7,345) or $1,345
( )
If funding is available, consider these tools to help with your assessments:
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o Dry
o Clean and comfortable
o Control pollutants o Deliver adequate ventilation
Key Building Blocks to a Healthy School
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EPA’s Voluntary Guidelines for States: Development and Implementation of a School Environmental Health Program
EPA has created these guidelines to help states establish and sustain environmental health programs for K-12 schools.
Recommendations, case studies and resources are presented to help states build or enhance healthy school programs.
An overview of the guidelines, as well as links to additional information and resources, is available online.
For more information on the Voluntary Guidelines:http://www.epa.gov/schools/ehguidelines/
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EPA's “Voluntary School Siting Guidelines”
These guidelines can help local school districts (local education agencies or LEAs) and community members evaluate environmental factors to make the best possible school siting decisions.
A website includes an overview for the guidelines, as well as links to resources and additional information:
http://www.epa.gov/schools/siting/
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As part of its mission, “…to protect human health and the environment,” EPA is working with various partners, including schools, to share information, resources and tools about healthy schools and the importance of environmental health issues.
Visit Region 7’s Healthy Schools website:http://www.epa.gov/region7/citizens/schools/index.htm
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Kathleen L. FentonUS EPA Region 7Office of Public AffairsHealthy Schools 11201 Renner BoulevardLenexa, KS 66219913-551-7874 (office)[email protected] or 913-551-7872 (fax)1-800-223-0425
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