COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
P.O. BOX 2120
RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23218-2120
SUPTS. MEMO NO. 185
September 9, 2005
INFORMATIONAL
|
TO: |
Division
Superintendents |
|
FROM: |
Jo Lynne
DeMary Superintendent
of Public Instruction |
|
SUBJECT: |
Career and
Technical Education Student Safety |
As the new
school year begins, safety of all students enrolled in career and technical
education programs is of the utmost importance. Please be reminded that the following Virginia Board of Education
regulation applies to all career and technical education programs.
1.
Each career
and technical education program shall include health and safety standards that
are applicable to the operation of that program which shall be made an integral
part of the program.
2.
Each career
and technical education program shall comply with applicable federal and state
laws and regulations related to health and safety.
Our Trade and
Industrial (T&I) Education housing construction projects are governed by
certain standards under the jurisdiction of the Virginia Occupational Safety
and Health Administration (VOSHA).
Safety of all
students enrolled in T&I programs is of paramount importance. Because of this concern, the Office of
Career and Technical Education conducted two thirty-hour OSHA seminars for
teachers this past year. Safety topics
covered included electricity, fall protection, fire protection, personal
protection equipment, power tools, and trenching. Forty-six instructors
received their OSHA credentials and are now endorsed to provide training for
their students. We are currently
planning five additional OSHA seminars to be held during the 2005-2006 school
year and will notify school divisions through a later Superintendents
Memorandum.
If you have
questions concerning the safe operation of programs in career and technical
education, please contact Elizabeth Russell (Elizabeth.Russell@doe.virginia.gov)
director of career and technical education, at (804) 225-2051.
JLD/EMR/sgj