Policy 2.031

Comprehensive Safety Inspections

1. Purpose.-- The School Board of Palm Beach County, Florida, is committed to conducting its operations in compliance with all safety, health, and environmental regulations and to provide a safe and healthful learning environment and workplace for all its students and employees. In support of this commitment, in accordance with Fla. Stat. § 1013.12 and F.A.C. r. 4A-58.004, the Board will provide for two annual inspections of all facilities, except new facilities in their initial one-year warranty period.

2. Inspections by the School District

1. Sanitation and Casualty Inspections.-- Once each fiscal year, all educational and ancillary facilities, shall receive a sanitation and casualty inspection to assess compliance with standards prescribed by Fla. Stat. § 1013.12 and the rules of the State Board of Education. Sanitation and casualty inspections shall be conducted by persons proficient with applicable rules and standards under Fla. Stat. § 1013.12. Should the occasion arise where corrective actions for sanitation and casualty issues may not be readily available or not completed immediately, the School Board shall work with the Superintendent to create an appropriate time/task calendar for completing the corrective actions.

2. Firesafety Inspection.-- All facilities shall also receive an annual firesafety inspection to assess compliance with uniform firesafety standards for educational and ancillary facilities as adopted by the State Fire Marshal, and these firesafety inspections shall be conducted by persons certified by the Division of State Fire Marshal to be eligible to conduct firesafety inspections in public educational and ancillary plants, pursuant to Fla. Stat. § 1013.12(1)(b).

1. As required by § 1013.12(1)(b), "the Board shall submit a copy of the firesafety inspection report to the State Fire Marshal and, if there is a local fire official who conducts firesafety inspections, to the local fire official." In each firesafety inspection report, the Board shall include a plan of action and a schedule for the correction of each deficiency which have been formulated in consultation with the local fire control authority.

2. If immediate life-threatening deficiencies are noted in any inspection, the Board shall either take action to promptly correct the deficiencies or withdraw the educational or ancillary plant from use until such time as the deficiencies are corrected, pursuant to § 1013.12(1)(c).

3. Inspections by Local Authorities.-- The Board shall cooperate with local firesafety authorities that are also required to conduct annual firesafety inspections under F.A.C. Chapter 4A-58.

1. In each firesafety inspection report the local fire official in conjunction with the Board shall include a plan of action for the correction of each deficiency, pursuant to Fla. Stat. § 1013.12(2)(b), (c). In each such firesafety inspection report, the Board shall include a plan of action and a schedule for the correction of each deficiency which have been formulated in consultation with the local fire control authority.

2. If immediate life-threatening deficiencies are noted in any inspection, the Board shall either take action to promptly correct the deficiencies or withdraw the educational or ancillary plant from use until such time as the deficiencies are corrected, as stated in § 1013.12(1)(c).

4. Superintendent's Responsibility.-- The Superintendent shall ensure that corrective actions are undertaken to eliminate or minimize all hazards determined by sanitation and casualty inspections and firesafety inspections, and direct staff to take related actions necessary to protect the interests of the School Board.

5. Board's Responsibility.-- The Board shall allocate adequate funding to minimize or eliminate hazards determined by sanitation and casualty inspections and firesafety inspections.