Environmental Health and Safety

• District 622 has surveyed its buildings for asbestos-containing building materials as required by the Asbestos Emergency Response Act (AHERA) and maintains an Asbestos Management Plan available for review at each building and the Operations Department.
• Periodic surveillance of known asbestos in district buildings is performed every six months by a designated person to assess the condition of the asbestos-containing building materials.  Results are maintained and also available for review as part of the Asbestos Management Plan. 

For additional information, please contact the District’s AHERA Local Educational Agency (LEA) Designee, Mike Boland.

ISD 622 North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale has developed A Workplace Accident and Injury Reduction (AWAIR) Program to promote safe and healthful working conditions for our employees.  Minnesota Statutes Chapter 182 requires employers in certain industries to develop and maintain an AWAIR program.  These industries are identified in Minnesota Rules 5208.1500 by North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code.  The list of industries is updated every five years and includes those industries with an illness and injury incidence rate or a lost-workday incidence rate at or above the state average.  

District 622 strives to maintain good Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) in each of its buildings, by implementing practical policies and procedures that protect the health of students and staff and improve the teaching and learning environment.  The district conducts annual air quality testing in buildings and maintains an IAQ Management Plan as required by state law.

District 622 maintains a Lead in Water Management Plan and conducts tests for the presence of lead in drinking water in schools, as required by state law.  All taps used for drinking water and food preparation are tested at least once every five years.

In partnership with the MN Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), our District is proud to be a part of the Mercury Free Program. We have taken important steps to protect the health of our students and staff. Our goal is to remove mercury or any mercury-containing chemicals from our buildings and to educate students, teachers, and staff about the dangers of mercury and mercury reduction practices.

District 622 utilizes a licensed, professional pest control service firm to prevent and control rodents, insects, and other pests in and around district buildings that can sting, bite, cause contamination, damage property, or spread disease. The program follows these steps:

• Inspection and monitoring to determine whether pests are present and treatment needed;
• Recommendations for maintenance and sanitation to eliminate pests without using pest control materials; 
• Utilization of non-chemical measures such as traps, caulking and screening, and
• Application of EPA-registered pest control materials if needed.  All pest control materials are chosen and applied according to label directions per federal law.

• State law requires that guardians be told that the long-term health effects on children from the application of some pesticides, or the class of materials to which they belong, may not be fully understood. An estimated schedule of interior pest control inspections and possible treatments is available for review at each building and in the Operations Department.  

Parents may request to receive, via email, prior notice of scheduled pest inspections and/or any pesticide application.  Requests can be made by filling out the following form:  Parent Request for Prior Notification of Pesticide Application.

School District 622 utilizes a licensed pest control service and has a comprehensive pest mitigation plan for the prevention and control of rodents, insects, and other pests in and around district buildings. Non-pesticide solutions are used first, and pesticides are only applied if needed. Staff are informed of any emergency pesticide treatments and protocol in advance. For questions, contact facilities@isd622.org.

Per state law, District 622 conducts radon testing according to the state’s ‘Radon Testing Plan’. Results are reported to the School Board, and the Minnesota Department of Health and are available for viewing. ISD 622 tests for radon every 5 years.