Health and Safety Plan 2023-2024

Accident Reporting System

The Accident Reporting System procedure is performed online through the School District of Manatee County website. All accidents or “near misses” must be reported immediately and an accident investigation is conducted. The purpose is to evaluate the accident, review how it happened, and determine if a potential hazard exists which can be reduced or eliminated so future incidents are not repeated. 

All of our employees are expected to complete basic safety training, follow all safety policies, and use common sense in their daily activities. 

Employees 

As an employee, you are responsible to: 

• Immediately report any injury received on the job to your supervisor or manager. 
• Contact, or have your supervisor contact, the case manager prior to seeking medical care for an occupational injury that does not require emergency treatment. 
• Obtain all medical care from providers authorized by the claims administrator. 
• Follow your provider’s instructions regarding your treatment. 
• Keep all scheduled appointments. 
• Return to active employment when released by your physician. 

Claim Reporting System In the case of injury or illness requiring services that are not an emergency (back pain, sprained ankle, etc.), the employee must notify his/her Supervisor who, in turn, will receive authorization prior to obtaining care. The injured employee must be available by telephone to discuss his/her injury status with the Triage Nurse Case Manager. ALL INJURIES SHOULD BE REPORTED THE SAME DAY THEY OCCUR WITHOUT DELAY. 

Emergency Care

•  If a true emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room 
• MTC supervisor will report the incident by contacting the School District of Manatee County 
• Additional medical care that is needed should be coordinated through them. 

After hours medical care is available 24 hours a day, seven (7) days a week (including holidays). If for some reason the employee should go to the Emergency Room or Urgent Care facility, the employee must notify supervisor no later than the next business day. Traveling employees except in emergency situations, who are injured outside of the service area must report injury immediately to the School District of Manatee County and Florida Blue to obtain prior authorization for the treatment. Unless prior authorization is received for non-emergency care outside of the service area, the employee could be held responsible for payment.

Students

If a student suffers work-related injury/illness, a Student Accident Report should be completed on the same day as the incident and submitted that day to the Director’s Secretary. The Director’s Secretary will retain a copy for MTC’s files and submit the form to the School District of Manatee County’s Risk Management department for filing and/or action. 

Public

f a non-district employee or student suffers work related injury/illness, a Public Incident Report should be completed on the same day of the incident and submitted that day to the Director’s secretary. The Director’s Secretary will retain a copy for MTC’s files and submit the form to the School District of Manatee County Risk Management department for filing and/or action. 

Accident Investigation System

The MTC Director completes a Supervisor Investigation Report as necessary and submits the report to the School District of Manatee County Risk Management office before the end of the working day on which the incident is reported. A Public Incident Report or Student Accident Report submitted to the district Risk Management office is investigated through their department procedures. 

Site Emergency Plan

Each MTC Campus site has a specific Site Emergency Plan. Emergency procedures are in every program including administrative and common areas. 

Every MTC classroom and lab area has a copy of the Manatee County Schools Emergency Plan (red flip book). Every year at the first staff meeting of the school year, the plan is reviewed with staff. The plan is designed as a quick reference resource for the classroom and is part of the School District of Manatee County’s Emergency Operations Plan. It provides essential information to assist staff in responding to a wide range of threats and hazards that may affect the school. The school district’s Emergency Operations Plan considers lessons learned from prior school incidents to highlight the importance of preparing for any hazard or emergency. The school district’s Emergency Operations Plan is aligned with the emergency planning practices incorporating national, state, and local level safety practices and includes the five phases of emergency preparedness: Prevention, Protection, Mitigation, Response, and Recovery. 

Part of the School District of Manatee County’s Emergency Operations Plan requires each school site to conduct regular drills for various scenarios (fire drills are required monthly implementing primary and secondary means of egress, severe weather such as tornado drills, lockdowns, shelter-in-place etc.) in order for staff, students, and visitors to be prepared during critical incidents. Each MTC Site’s Emergency Plan has easy-to-follow directions, scripts, and staff responsibilities for each critical incident. Drills are scheduled and logged into the Raptor system. 

Drills are announced on the intercom system and conducted so that students and personnel can react quickly and appropriately to an actual incident. All occupants of the school must participate. During the drills, administrators and selected staff members check students and staff leaving the buildings according to the plan. The plan is reviewed and revised annually or more frequently if needed. 

Crisis Response Plan

The MTC Crisis Response Plan is aligned with the School District of Manatee County’s Emergency Operations Plan, providing MTC school sites with a guide for effective response to a critical incident. The plan is divided into five sections including Hazard Analysis, Method of Operations, Emergency Management Goals and Objectives, Appendices and Annexes. The plan utilizes the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and establishes the Incident Command System (ICS) in crisis response to ensure School District of Manatee County sites will be adequately prepared to deal with an emergency. Roles and responsibilities will be outlined to aid in the organization of preparation, response, and recovery from a threatened or actual emergency. 

This emergency response plan is developed according to the School District of Manatee County’s policy. All district schools have developed and implemented a school security program meeting the Florida State Statute 1006.7 district school board duties relating to student school safety, including section (4) (a) which states that “the district board shall establish model emergency management and preparedness procedures.” 

A Crisis Response Team (CRT) is the group of individuals who work together to manage the emergency response of a critical incident at the school site. The CRT is comprised of both on site staff and administration. There will be one CRT at each school site. CRT members are made aware of the responsibilities of being a member. A CRT is established every August for each school site and is posted for the School District of Manatee County’s review. 

The Crisis Response Plan is distributed to each school site. Local law enforcement, fire, and emergency management agencies will receive updated copies each August. Up-to-date USB devices will be forwarded to local first responders for emergency planning/response purposes through the school district’s Safety and Security/Emergency Management office.

Safety Data Sheets

All school site Safety Data Sheets (SDS) are maintained and available in each laboratory in a visible “Right to Know” station, as well as the warehouse, and all areas where chemical storage is located. In addition, MTC has posted the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) diamond shaped Chemical Hazard Sign on the outside of labs. Access to MTC’s SDS is also accessible through the School District of Manatee County’s intranet. The SDS sheets contain information on the composition of chemical substances and provide guidance on the use, storage, spill clean-up and first aid requirements, as well as the proper disposal of substances.

Photo Identification – Badges

To properly identify those persons who are authorized to be on campus, MTC has developed a system of color-coded photo identification badges that are issued to secondary and postsecondary students in technical programs, students in ESOL and GED classes upon registration, and to staff each year. Students enrolled in short-term or continuing education classes are issued a temporary student identification badge. All visitors must visit the front desk upon entry on the campus to receive a visitor’s identification name tag. Students, staff, and guests must wear their badge in a visible location at all times, above the waist to ensure campus safety. Employee badges also provide access into the campus at most doors. 

Jessica Lunsford Act

On June 20, 2007, Governor Charlie Crist signed into law Senate Bill 988, Relating to High Risk Offenders. The bill, effective on July 1, 2007, requires specific notations on the driver’s licenses of sexual predators, and established standards and procedures related to the background screening of individuals who provide contracted non-instructional services to Florida public schools or districts. All persons who will have direct contact with students must have completed level 2 screening requirements as described in Florida Statute 1012.32. 

This pertains to school district employees, volunteers, interns, mentors, contractors, vendors, coaches, and sports officials. Guests to the campus must report to the front desk upon arrival and present a valid driver’s license to be registered and are issued a temporary visitor’s badge after being checked through RAPTOR, a rapid check system that identifies sex offenders listed in the State of Florida database.

Campus Security 

Clearly visible on Main campus is a School Guardian. The Guardian always has contact via radio, cell phone and land line to administrators. Guardians are working as an extension of the director’s office. Guardians wear uniforms to be visible to staff, students, parents, and the community. There is a Guardian on rotation for the day and one for the evening programs. If there is an event where extra security is needed, more guardians are brought in, and the district’s weapon detection system is used. There are multiple security monitoring cameras used to enhance security and record events. The East Campus has security monitoring cameras in place and has access to the School Resource officer at Lakewood Ranch High School if a need arises. 

School district personnel monitor campus security 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Intruder alarm systems are maintained and inspected for all buildings by a contracted security company. Maintenance of all fire extinguishers and the fire alarm system is contracted to a licensed service company. 

Evaluation – Revision

MTC’s health and safety written plan is reviewed annually by MTC’s Advisory Committee as well as the Board of Governors. The School District of Manatee County also oversees all requirements for each school to ensure that mandates concerning health and safety policies and procedures are adhered to. 

Reviewed and Approved by Board of Governors – 01.26.2017 
Reviewed and Approved by Board of Governors – 01.25.2018 
Reviewed and Approved by Board of Governors – 01.31.2019 
Reviewed and Approved by Board of Governors – 01.23.2020 
Reviewed and Approved by Board of Governors – 01.21.2021 
Reviewed and Approved by Board of Governors – 01.27.2022 
Reviewed and Approved by Board of Governors – 01.26.2023 
Reviewed and Approved by Board of Governors – 01.18.2024 

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