Environmental Health & Safety
News Items
Gideon Welles PCB Monitoring Report (4-19-2022)
Please see the recent PCB Monitoring Report posted here
If you have any questions, please contact Glastonbury Public Schools Director of Environmental Health & Safety Ken Roy (860-652-7200, ext. 12002).
Gideon_Welles_March_2022_PCB_Air_Wipe_Sampling_Report.pdfEastbury Water Notification—Lead Report (2013-2021)
Please see the Eastbury School Certification of Compliance for Consumer Notification of Lead Tap Water Monitoring 2013-2021.
If you have any questions, please contact Glastonbury Public Schools Director of Environmental Health & Safety Ken Roy (860-652-7200, ext. 12002).
Eastbury Notification of Lead Tap Water Monitoring 2013-2021.pdfCoronavirus (4/22/2020)
Latest information on how to protect yourself and your family from the coronavirus from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Site provides recommendations, statistics, resources and more. Site address: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
Governor Lamont Signs Order Requiring Masks or Cloth Face Coverings in Public in CT to Slow COVID-19 (4/19/2020)
Connecticut residents will be required to wear a cloth face covering in public spaces beginning April 20 if they cannot maintain a safe social distance, according to a new executive order from Governor Ned Lamont. - https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/coronavirus/gov-lamont-signs-order-requiring-masks-or-cloth-face-coverings-in-public/2257419/
CDC Launches New Weekly COVID-19 Surveillance Report (4/3/2020)
CDC is modifying existing surveillance systems to track COVID-19, and posted the first of what will be a weekly surveillance report called, “COVIDView.” The report, updated each Friday, will summarize and interpret key indicators, including information related to COVID-19 outpatient visits, emergency department visits, hospitalizations and deaths, as well as laboratory data. Site address: https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2020/s0404-covid19-surveillance-report.html
Eastbury Water Testing (1/6/2020)
Recent routine testing of water at Eastbury School continues to show a slightly elevated level of chloride. We are posting this information here and also sending families an email notification.
We were told this slightly elevated chloride level is not dangerous and we may continue using the drinking water. However, we decided to replace the drinking water with water coolers until testing shows the level of chloride from the well has come down. We are currently in the process of securing professional consultant services to determine how this issue can be resolved in the long term.
If you have any questions, please contact Glastonbury Public Schools Director of Environmental Health & Chemical Safety, Ken Roy (860-652-7200, ext. 12002).
OSHA Violations Statistics (1/2/2020)
Based on OSHA Information System data from Oct. 1, 2018, to Sept. 30, 2019. Data current as of Nov. 1.
Top 10 "Serious" Violations Nationwide, fiscal year 2019
OSHA defines a “serious” violation as “one in which there is a substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result, and the employer knew or should have known of the hazard.”
1. Fall Protection (1926.501) with 6,677 violations
2. Scaffolding (1926.451) with 2,939 violations
3. Hazard Communication (1910.1200) with 2,754 violations
4. Ladders (1926.1053) with 2,463 violations
5. Lockout/Tagout (1910.147) with 2,415 violations
6. Respiratory Protection (1910.134) with 1,902 violations
7. Machine Guarding (1926.212) with 1,737 violations
8. Powered Industrial Trucks (1910.178) with 1,593 violations
9. Fall Protection—Training Requirements (1926.503) with 1,584 violations
10. Personal Protective and Lifesaving Equipment—Eye and Face Protection (1926.102) with 1,449 violations
Top 10 "Willful" Violations, fiscal year 2019
OSHA defines a “willful” violation as one “committed with an intentional disregard of or plain indifference to the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Act and requirements.”
1. Fall Protection (1926.501) with 164 violations
2. Requirements for Protective Systems (1926.652) with 31 violations
3. Permit-Required Confined Spaces (1910.146) with 28 violations
4. Scaffolding (1926.451) with 17 violations
5. Lockout/Tagout (1910.147) with 14 violations
6. Machine Guarding (1926.212) with 13 violations
7. Specific Excavation Requirements (1926.651) with 12 violations
8. Asbestos (1926.1101) with 11 violations
9. Respiratory Protection (1910.134) with 9 violations
10. Fall Protection—Training Requirements (1926.503) with 8 violations
Eastbury Water Testing (10/17/2019)
Testing was completed in October 2019 at Eastbury for lead and copper. All results met state dept of Health Standards. There were no issues. For actual results, please contact the Environmental Health and Chemical Safety Office (PacificiL@glastonburyus.org).
Eastbury Well Water Notification (10/7/19)
Routine testing of water at Eastbury School has recently shown the presence of Coliform Bacteria. We are posting this information here and have also sent an email to be sure all families receive the information.
As indicated by the notification, this is not an emergency. We are in the process of conducting an assessment to identify and correct sanitary defects that may have caused this problem. Total coliform bacteria are generally considered harmless and although they are present, there is no immediate health risk to those ingesting the water.
In being proactive, we continue to replace the drinking water with water coolers until well water issues are resolved. Therefore, ingesting of the Eastbury water by building occupants is generally unlikely.
If you have any questions, please contact Glastonbury Public Schools Director of Environmental Health & Chemical Safety, Ken Roy (860-652-7200, ext. 12002).
EA Drinking Water Notification.pdfAnnual Pesticide Reports (April 2018)
Please click here for the 2017 Glastonbury Schools Pesticide Reports which are being provided for parent/employee information per CT State law. Anyone having questions should contact Dr. Ken Roy, Director of Environmental Health & Chemical Safety: RoyK@Glastonburyus.org.
Gideon Welles PCB Long-Term Monitoring & Maintenance Plan
As a follow-up to the Gideon Wells window replacement/PCB removal project, there now is an EPA approved long-term monitoring and maintenance plan. If interested in reviewing the plan, contact the main office at Gideon Wells. This involves a long term on-going monitoring program.
Glastonbury Public Schools Green Cleaning Program 10/19/2016
Please click here to learn about the district's Green Cleaning Program which follows maintenance and operations best practices and legal standards for minimizing building impact on human health and the environment. Compliance with this program allows our district to create a building environment that strives to minimize waste, uses more sustainable products and systems, and uses energy as efficiently as possible.
OSHA Adopts Globally Harmonized System for Hazardous Chemicals!
OSHA in May 2012 adopted the Globally Harmonized System for Classification and Labeling of Hazardous Chemicals or GHS. The adoption means changes in a number of requirements such as Materials Safety Data Sheets (now to be called Safety Data Sheets), labeling criteria, hazard symbols and more. GPS updated their Hazardous Communications Program plans and provide training for appropriate employees prior to December 2013. As of June 2015, the program is fully operational.
Bill Requiring Green Cleaning Products in Public Schools Now In Effect!
House Bill 6496 requiring local and regional school districts to use green cleaning products in schools, helping to ensure a healthier air quality for students, faculty and staff is now in effect. House Bill 6496 requires school districts to have a green cleaning program in place by 01 July 2011. The environmentally preferable products must meet nationally certified guidelines and be approved by the state Department of Administrative Services. They include products used for general purpose cleaning, bathroom, glass and carpet cleaners, hand cleaners and soaps, floor finishers and strippers. The law also requires that the types of cleaners and the methods used by schools must be made public. One important part of the new law notes that schools can no longer have cleaning products brought into buildings by employees, parents, PTO groups, etc. These products must be provided by the school district's maintenance department.
The basic tenets of the program are as follows:
Green cleaning program means the procurement and proper use of environmentally preferable cleaning products as defined by the Department of Administrative Services (DAS) for all state owned building, schools and facilities. DAS currently requires that environmentally preferable cleaning products be independently certified by one of two third party certified organizations: Green Seal or Eco Logo.
By July 1, 2011 and thereafter no person shall use a cleaning product in a public school unless it meets the DAS standard.
The types of cleaning products covered in this legislation include: general purpose, bathroom, and glass cleaners, floor strippers and finishes, hand cleaners and soaps.
Disinfectants, disinfectant cleaners, sanitizers or antimicrobial products regulated by the federal insecticide, fungicide and rodenticide act are not covered by this law.
The following statement will be part of this school district's program as stated in the new law;
"NO PARENT, GUARDIAN, TEACHER OR STAFF MEMBER MAY BRING INTO THE SCHOOL FACILITY ANY CONSUMER PRODUCT WHICH IS INTENDED TO CLEAN, DEODORIZE, SANITIZE OR DISINFECT".
The implementation of this program requires the support and cooperation of everyone including administrators, faculty, staff, parents, guardians and facilities staff.
The following chart lists the types, names and manufacturers of the green products used by Glastonbury Public Schools as well as the location/area of application and the schedule of when each is used.
Pesticide Law for Schools Updated Relative to Elementary & Middles School Applications
Lawn care pesticides at elementary and middle schools may only be applied in emergency situations (e.g., direct exposure to insects (bees, ticks, etc.) and poisonous plants (poison ivy, etc.) as of 01 July 2010 per Public Act No. 09-56 - An Act Concerning Pesticide Applications At Child Day Care Centers and Schools. Additional information can be found at the following website: https://www.cga.ct.gov/2009/act/Pa/pdf/2009PA-00056-R00SB-01020-PA.PDF
Asbestos Management:
Pursuant to C.G.S. 19a-333-1 through 13, Glastonbury Public Schools (GPS) is required to notify parents (and employees) that the schools have been inspected for asbestos-containing materials. The buildings are thoroughly re-inspected every three (3) years by licensedasbestos inspectors following the same criteria as the original inspection. A copy of theAsbestos Management Plan is available in each school office. The Asbestos Designated Person for the GPS asbestos program is Albert Costa, Director of Operations/Maintenance. For additional information or questions, contact Albert Costa at (860) 652-7992.
School Radon Re-evaluation Testing Program 2017
The Connecticut State Department of Public Health requires re-evaluation of radon in all schools every 5 years and intervention is required. A statistical sample set is required per CSDPH guidelines which were followed and tested by a state certified lab. There is an Action Level where intervention is required at or above 4.0 pCi/L. The following results were reported in February 2017. For additional information, contact Dr. Roy at (860) 652--7200 X 2002.
The following statistics represents total number of rooms tested for airborne radon where average results were at or above 4.0 pCi/L:
Buttonball Lane School - 0
Eastbury School - 0
Gideon Welles School - 0
Glastonbury High School - 0
Hebron Avenue School - 0
Hopewell School - 0
Naubuc School - 0
Nayaug School - 0
LINKS Academy - 0
Smith Middle School -0