A teacher is a person who helps students to acquire knowledge, prepares lesson plans, and educates students at all levels. Their general tasks may include to:
duty Carry out the supervisory duties and instructional programs as assigned by the principal.
duty Co-operate with the principal and other teachers to establish and maintain a safe environment in the classroom or at the workplace, as well as use consistent disciplinary practices.
duty Assist the principal in maintaining co-operation with the community.
duty Participate in meetings with students’ parents or guardians.
There are several potential health and safety hazards associated with teacher's duties, including:
Biological hazards
Chemical hazards
Ergonomic risks
Physical hazards
Psychosocial hazards
Safety hazards
biological Risk of exposure to blood and infection from others or items.
biological Risk of biological hazards such as bacterial, fungi, viruses and other infectious agents such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, coronavirus, etc.
biological Exposure to mould.
chemical Injuries from contact with laboratory chemicals, cleaning solutions, plants, or animals.
chemical Exposure to fumes (e.g., welding) in technical shops.
chemical Exposure to gases (e.g., carbon monoxide).
safety Handling of flammable, reactive, explosive, or corrosive products, especially in the laboratory.
general Sitting for long hours.
ergonomic Standing, bending, stretching and lifting.
ergonomic Repetitive Motion injuries (RMIs), including carpal tunnel syndrome.
ergonomic Inadequate lighting (glare, low levels, etc.) which may cause workers to adopt awkward postures.
general Indoor air quality.
physical Noise.
physical Temperature (heat and cold stress).
chemical Exposure to materials such as asbestos in older buildings.
psychosocial Risk for workplace violence and bullying.
general Working with students who require accommodations or assistance.
psychosocial Internet harassment.
psychosocial Workplace stress.
psychosocial Fatigue.
general Exposure to moving parts in technical shops.
safety Electrical hazards.
safety Fire hazards.
psychosocial Working alone.
general Situations that require appropriate personal protective equipment.
safety Slips, trips, and falls.
Biological hazards
Chemical Hazards
Physical hazards
Psychosocial hazards
Safety
administrative Treat all body substances such as blood and bodily fluids as potentially infectious – use safe work practices for infection control when cleaning these substances.
requirement During situations such as the covid-19 pandemic, follow the guidance from your employer, local public health authority, or government.
requirement Wash hands regularly, especially before and after working with students and other co-workers to prevent infection.
requirement Consider immunization against Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, influenza, MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella), and others as appropriate.
administrative Follow your training in WHMIS and safe handling of hazardous products.
requirement Read and understand the information on the safety data sheets.
administrative Follow safe work practices.
requirement Safely store and dispose of products.
requirement Use a less harmful product where possible.
engineering Report indoor air quality concerns to your employer, including if you suspect the ventilation system is not working properly.
administrative Report when there are issues with the lighting in your work area or classroom.
requirement Ask for assistance in reducing noise levels.
administrative Follow the workplace’s workplace violence prevention policy and program.
administrative Know how to recognize warning signs of workplace violence, and how to report incidents.
requirement Know and follow any student safety plans that are in place, as appropriate.
administrative Inspect tools and equipment and make sure they are in good condition. Clean all equipment after each use.
requirement Make sure all sharp equipment is disposed of in a safe manner.
requirement Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces.
ppe Wear appropriate footwear and keep walking surfaces clean.
ppe When necessary, wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), including appropriate respirators, masks, eye protection, and gloves.
requirement Follow electrical safety measures.
requirement Follow precautions for fire safety, including the use of fire extinguishers.
Teachers should consider the following safe work practices:
All workers should:
requirement Practice good hand washing techniques.
requirement Practice safe lifting techniques.
requirement Work safely with equipment, tools, and ladders.
requirement Follow SDS recommendations when working with products.
ppe Properly select, use, maintain and store PPE, where appropriate.
requirement Understand the risks of fatigue.
requirement Follow your school or organization’s prevention policies about violence (general).
requirement Know what to do when working alone (general information).
requirement follow the school’s or organization’s safety rules.
requirement know about WHMIS and SDSs.
administrative know your hazard reporting procedures.
administrative follow good housekeeping procedures.
requirement Fact sheet first published: 2021-02-15
// Portal
Chemicals
Notes for this occupation. Open one to read the practices and the protection it calls for.