Environmental Health & Safety is the science and practice of preventing human injury and illness and promoting well-being by identifying and evaluating environmental and hazardous agents and limiting exposures to hazardous physical, chemical, and biological agents in air, water, soil, food, and other environmental media or settings that may adversely affect human health.

This task is accomplished through the use of Inspections, Investigations, Consultations, and Training attempting to follow the Plan, Do, Check, and Act method of Continual Improvement.

Consulting

Environmental Health and Safety provides consultative services to all School Board of Broward County lines of business regarding the topics of Environmental Health and Safety.

Inspections

EH&S coordinates inspections of lines of business that have a higher risk of causing injury or illness. These inspections can include self-inspections, multi-agency inspections, or departmental inspections. The results are communicated to the onsite personnel in charge of the line of business along with expectations for mitigation of the identified hazard(s). Environmental Health Staff will assist in mitigation actions and provide guidance and recommendations as requested until the hazard(s) has been successfully mitigated.

Investigations

Environmental Health and Safety conducts investigations into injuries and illnesses to determine the root cause. If a hazard is identified through an investigation it is assessed and a mitigation plan is put into place. Should a concern be communicated from outside the District, Environmental Health and safety will conduct an investigation to determine if the concern is justified and communicate the results back to the concerned entity.

Pedestrian & Vehicle Safety

Environmental Health and Safety is responsible for assessing the routes children walk or bike to school. When issues are found they are communicated to the appropriate jurisdiction for mitigation. Environmental Health and Safety also assists with ensuring school-provided transportation is done in a safe and healthy manner by working with the Transportation Department to address concerns and hazards. Environmental Health and Safety also works with schools to improve safety onsite in the parent pick-up/drop-off loops.