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Otsego Northern Catskills


BOARD OF COOPERATIVE EDUCATIONAL SERVICES

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Safety and Risk Management

"For every month school is in session, K-12 students are required to receive 45 minutes of arson and fire prevention education."

Our Mission Statement

"To provide safe environments for school personnel and students through school and community partnerships, continued communication with school districts, state and regional agencies and by providing educational awareness programs in health, life and safety"

Attention: 

The Safety and Risk Management Office would like to remind you of the important information below.


With the flu season/COVID-19 upon us, we would like to remain cautious.  Attached you will find the latest and most comprehensive PreK-12 guidance from NYSDOH & NYSED regarding COVID-19. It can also be found, along with many other resources, on the NYSED Student Support Services page HERE.


Please continue to remind your students, staff and parents that the best methods to reduce their risk of COVID-19 and other influenza are to:


  • Wash your hands often, using soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick, stay at least 6 feet apart.
  • Stay home when you are sick. If you have symptoms of COVID-19 contact your health care provider or hospital BEFORE going.
  • Cover your cough and sneeze with a tissue, then immediately dispose of the tissue.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces at least daily.

This is a good CDC handwashing video which can be shared with them.

http://youtu.be/eZw4Ga3jg3E


You can also call the NYS Coronavirus Hotline at 1-888-364-3065 with questions and/or concerns about travel and symptoms.


This is a good time to update your pandemic or communicable disease written plan. If your district does not have one, there is a template plan which can be modified to suit your needs. Please contact our office so that we may assist you.  


As always, please contact Safety & Risk Management if you have questions or need any assistance.

 

Please see the links below for further information:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC

New York State Department of Health  NYSDOH

 

We have also provided the following documents: 

Preparedness Policy Template 

covid-19-p-12-school-guidance 

 PreK to 12 Toolkit.pdf



“What is Safety/Risk?”

The Safety and Risk program assists participating districts in areas of life, health and safety issues as well as assisting in understanding, interpreting and complying with federal and state regulations that are applicable to the schools in all areas of safety and risk management. 


605 CoSer Service includes guidance with the following:
Safety and Risk Management NOW OFFERS:

NYS Education Department

OSHA and NYS Department Of Labor

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation and Environmental Protection Agency

NYS Department Of Health

NYS Division of State Police

Bus Safety

Recalls




We also offer services and training options upon request, as well as Student Safety Training Programs.

The Safety Risk Advisory Committee consists of a variety of school superintendents, school business officials, transportation and buildings and grounds supervisors from participating school districts. The committee meets four times a year.

Our Safety and Risk program is staffed with a full-time Safety Risk Officer/Program Coordinator who holds a NYS Department of Health Asbestos Inspector/ Management Planner certification, New York State Building Codes certification as a Code Enforcement Official, as well as an American Red Cross Instructor for First Aid, AED, CPR and BLS for adult, child and infant, Stop the Bleed Instructor, and is a Certified Playground Safety Inspector. Our other full-time Assistant Risk and Safety Officer team member holds NYS Department of Health Asbestos Inspector/ Management Planner certification, New York State Building Codes certification as a Code Enforcement Official, as well as an American Red Cross Instructor for First Aid, AED,CPR and BLS for adult, child and infant, Fire and Life Safety Educator (both state and nationally), Stop the Bleed Instructor, Certified Playground Safety Inspector and she is a NYS Citizen Public Health Leader. The last member of our team, also an Assistant Risk and Safety Officer is with us two days a week. 
He comes to us as an OSHA Authorized Trainer in both the Construction Standard and General Industry, Stop the Bleed Instructor, Certified Code Enforcement Officer,  Approved asbestos trainer through the Department of Health and has over 25 years of Health and Safety experience. 

Our contact information below will assist you in reaching us!


Joshua M. Reiss - Risk and Safety Officer / Program Coordinator
[email protected]  
Cell: 607-435-4534
Office: 607-286-7715 Ext. 2606
Fax: 607-286-9603 
 
Carrie Gullestad - Assistant Risk and Safety Officer
[email protected]  
Office: 607-286-7715 Ext. 2606
Fax: 607-286-9603
 
Richard Shaw - Assistant Risk and Safety Officer
Office: 607-286-7715 Ext. 2606
Fax: 607-286-9603