Workplace safety is a focus of the Canon-McMillan School District. At the
beginning of this decade, the district’s Business Office created a
Workplace Safety Committee chaired by Mr. Jon McCrory, chairperson of the
district’s Technology Education Department.
The committee’s mission is to take a critical look at workplace safety while
helping to find cost savings. The committee has equal representation from
administration and staff, including teachers, transportation personnel, building
administrators, secretaries, custodians, cafeteria workers and
Administration Building staff. Each committee member receives mandatory
training annually, conducted
by a professional
online through the
School Claims Service.
In an effort to reach
its goals, the committee
successfully earned
Department of Labor
and Industry approval
as a Workplace Safety
Committee each year by
following the mandated
rules received during
training.
The district stays on
top of safety issues and
concerns along with
earning a 5 percent discount
on Workers’
Compensation rates. In
2007, the committee also
earned the PSBA
(Pennsylvania School
Boards Association)
Insurance Trust Safety
Award acknowledging
the district for its proactive
approach to
safety/loss ontrol.
Noteworthy recommendations
and actions of the committee include:
Making recommendations to place an AED (Automated External
Defibrillator) in all buildings. To date, all district buildings and facilities are
equipped with a life-saving AED.
At the conclusion of the committee’s formal meeting, a site walk-through
is done and a safety checklist is completed for that building. The committee’s
findings are then shared with the building principal or supervisor prior to
leaving the building. If any safety violation is found, that building is revisited
either by Chairman McCrory or Mr. Randy Huddart, Director of Buildings and
Grounds. Later, another walk-through is conducted to observe if safety
issues had been addressed. All major findings have been
remedied.
The Workplace Safety Committee has now grown to include a
Transportation Safety Committee.
The Workplace Safety Committee shares information with
others throughout the district. The committee analyzes
Workers’ Compensation claims and looks for ways to avoid
future occurrences.
Mrs. Joni Mansmann, Director of Business and Finance,
says, “The commitment to safety is evident in every building
we have visited.”
“I encourage anyone with questions to contact me at mccroryj@
cmsd.k12.pa.us,” says Chairman McCrory.
The Safety Committee consists of, from left, front row,
Ms. Linda Kappel, Federal Coordinator; Mrs. Joni
Mansmann, Director of Business and Finance; Mrs.
Karen Dorgan, Maintenance Department Secretary;
back row, Mr. Jonn Mansfield, Director of Transportation;
Ms. Cheri Ochiuto, School Bus Driver; Mr. Jon
McCrory, Chairperson of the Safety Committee and
chairperson of the Technology Education Department;
and Mrs. Donna Barca, Administration Building
Secretary/Receptionist. Not pictured are Mr. Mark
Abbondanza, Canonsburg Middle School Principal;
Mrs. Shelley Brose, Assistant Principal at Cecil and
Muse elementary schools; Mrs. Linda Camerson,
Cafeteria Employee; Mr. Scott Chambers, Cecil
Intermediate School Principal; Mr. Randy Huddart,
Director of Buildings and Grounds; and Mrs. Cindy
Karner, Custodian.
