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High-Risk School Inspection Checklist

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What is a High-Risk School Health Inspection?

High Risk School Health Inspections- Occur every year only for schools that have laboratories and/or provide industrial arts or hazardous vocational activities. 

Examples of hazardous vocational activities may be activities such as: pottery, jewelry making, glass etching, soldering, welding, automotive, hydroponics/gardening, dark room photo development, wood shop, set design, etc.

High risk inspections primarily focus on chemical safety, chemical management, safety equipment and personal protective equipment within these areas. 

Checklist for a High-Risk School Health Inspection

Each area visited on high-risk school health inspections may be required to have certain items or documentation available for review. Use the below checklist as a self-assessment tool prior to your inspection. Please note that the items listed do not represent a comprehensive list of what is required.

Be sure to check for the listed items in all areas specified under each heading:

Safety Equipment:

(Art, science and vocational classrooms)

  • Eye protection that meets the ANSI Z87.1-2010 standard used when required. Shared eye protection must be:
    • Sanitized between students by using a UV cabinet or sanitizer solution.
  • Eye wash fountains and safety showers provided in all areas where corrosives or irritating materials are used. Eye wash fountains must be:
    • Labeled for high visibility
    • Easily accessible
    • Be able to flush both eyes at once
    • Have documentation of testing conducted annually
  • Hand washing facility where toxic, infectious or irritating materials are used
  • Electric shut-off switches in areas where power equipment and kilns are used. Electric shut-off switches must be:
    • Labeled for high visibility
    • Have documentation of testing conducted annually
  • Master gas shut-off in all vocational or science laboratories where active gas lines are present. Master gas shut-off shall be:
    • Labeled for high visibility
    • Easily accessible
    • Have documentation of testing conducted annually
  • Electric shut-off switches in areas where power equipment and kilns are used.
    • Labeled for high visibility
    • Have documentation of testing conducted annually
  • Class ABC fire extinguishers (if combustible metals are present, a class D extinguisher or agent shown to be effective in controlling combustible metal fires, such as dry sand, must be on hand)
  • Easily accessible fire blanket in all areas where open flame is used
  • Adequately stocked first aid kits available and stored in all laboratories, vocational education, industrial arts set design and art classrooms
  • Protective clothing that meets ANSI Z49.1-2014 standards used when welding occurs.

Ventilation: 

(Chemical/custodial storage rooms, art science and vocational classrooms)

  • Local exhaust ventilation shall be provided so that contaminants are exhausted away from the student and not through the breathing zone
  • Fume hood ventilation shall be provided and shall be used for any activity producing hazardous toxic or noxious gasses, mists, vapors, or dusts.
  • Air flow of local exhaust and fume hoods must be tested annually with documentation available upon request.
  • Spray booths and finishing rooms where flammable or combustible materials are used shall be constructed in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.107

Safety Data Sheets:

(Chemical/ custodial storage rooms, art, science and vocational classrooms)

  • SDS provided in each classroom or area where toxic or hazardous materials are used and stored. SDS materials must also be stored in a secondary location away from stored toxic or hazardous materials such as the front office.
  • SDS materials shall be current and organized in an easily searchable format

Chemical Storage & Handling:

(Chemical storage rooms)

  • A chemical hygiene plan, specific to the school, shall be kept on file and available. The chemical hygiene plan must:
    • Address all restricted chemicals present in the classrooms/ areas where used.
    • Address procedures for the management of chemical waste.
    • Have documentation that reviews/updates to the plan have been made annually.
  • All chemicals, compounds, and hazardous substances shall be inventoried a minimum of once a year. The chemical inventory list shall include:
  • Chemical waste shall be labeled “not for use” or “waste” and stored in designated areas away from classroom operations, sinks and floor drains
  • All chemicals and toxic or hazardous materials must be in safe and appropriate containers, separated by reactive group and stored in a ventilated, locked area or appropriate cabinet

Restricted & Prohibited Chemicals:

(Chemical storage rooms)

  • Restricted chemicals present in the school shall be identified in the school’s chemical inventory and addressed in the chemical hygiene plan
  • Containers of restricted chemicals shall also be labeled to easily identify the chemical as restricted
  • Restricted chemicals shall be removed from the school if alternatives can be used
  • Prohibited chemicals on school premises shall be identified and labeled as “not for use” or “waste” and segregated from the chemical inventory for disposal

Additional High-Risk School Inspection Resources