Certificate of Achievement
- Certificate of Achievement for Environmental Health
- Online Certificate of Achievement form
- Non-toxic or least-toxic supplies and materials
- Health criteria for purchase and use
- Envision workshops, technical assistance to school
Certificate of Achievement for Environmental Health
Under Act 125 Vermont schools can annually apply for a Certificate of Achievement as recognition of their efforts to improve air quality and reduce exposures to hazardous materials. Starting in 2004, a list of schools that currently achieved this award will be located here.
The standards to receive the certificate include the following:
- Adopting an environmental health management plan & policy
- Adopting purchasing policies that specify non-toxic or least toxic materials
- Adopting an integrated pest management and control program to reduce use and exposure of pesticides
- Completing an annual workshop approved by the Department of Health
- Demonstrating exemplary progress in four of nine environmental health areas.
Non-toxic or least-toxic supplies and materials
Many substances, in large enough quantities, can be toxic. Children and other susceptible populations can be especially affected by some substances, even in very small doses. The presence of a harmful substance does not necessarily mean that people are being harmed, however. The effect depends upon a number of factors including if and how the substance is entering the body.
In addition, what would usually be considered safe for nearly all of a school’s occupants may trigger some health effect in a particular individual. And even non-toxic or least-toxic substances may cause or contribute to health effects under certain conditions.
Because schools have a variety of ventilation systems, supplies or materials that may be appropriate for one school may not be for another. Because of this variability, a school should purchase what is appropriate for its particular school setting. Be sure to follow all directions and precautions on the MSDS to ensure that the risk of potential health effects is minimized.
For details, consult our indoor air quality fact sheets and our Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) Resources. You will find a wealth of relevant information at the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry’s ToxFAQs: Frequently Asked Questions About Contaminants.
The following sites offer information about environmentally preferable products:
- Vermont State Goverment Supply Contracts
- Commonwealth of Massachusetts Environmentally Preferable Products Procurement Program
- EPA’s Environmentally Preferable Purchasing site
- Janitorial Products Pollution Prevention Project, sponsored by EPA and state and local governments in California
Important note: While the products listed on these sites may be environmentally preferable to other products, they still may cause adverse reactions in potentially susceptible populations, including children. (Please see our disclaimer.)
The following publications from the Consumer Product Safety Commission also offer useful information:
- What You Should Know About Using Paint Strippers
- Tips for Purchasing and Installing New Carpet
- An Update On Formaldehyde
- CPSC Urges Ventilation To Reduce Methylene Chloride Cancer Risk
- Healthy Indoor Painting Practices (pdf)
Health criteria for purchase and use
This section regards environmental health criteria that schools may use as decision-making tools when determining what materials to purchase or use in school construction or operations.
Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) contain information that may be helpful. (See Material Safety Data Sheet Resources.) When considering whether to purchase a material or product, pay particular attention to what the MSDS says about the following:
- Health hazard rating. (0-4, with 0 meaning "normal materials" or insignificant and 4 meaning potentially "deadly")
- Normal form of exposure (such as inhalation)
- Signs and symptoms of acute or chronic overexposure
- Whether any of the ingredients are deemed by the government or any reputable organization as being carcinogenic
- Any special spill or handling precautions
- Whether any special ventilation is required (e.g. general, mechanical, local exhaust); whether any protective equipment or clothing is needed
Healthy Schools Partnering with the State of Vermont
The Purchasing and Contract Administration Division of the State of Vermont Department of Buildings and General Services is authorized through legislation to cooperate with political subdivisions - public schools, colleges, municipalities.
Services available include writing state purchasing contracts to include schools, and acting as a resource for purchasing concerns.
- Read more about the Healthy School Partnership for buying safer custodial cleaning products (pdf)
Envision workshops on environmental health and other technical assistance available to schools
The Vermont Department of Health has conducted a number of Envision program trainings and workshops over the years. Many of the workshops have been in collaboration with the American Lung Association of Vermont, where training has been provided annually to school personnel teams. These training workshops are based upon the federal Environmental Protection Agency’s Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools program.
Indoor air quality is a narrower subject than the “environmental health” mentioned by Act 125 in connection with workshops. Efforts will continue to offer workshops in modified form in response to the new legislation.
With respect to other technical help, the Vermont Department of Health offers troubleshooting assistance consisting of:
Phone consultation with anyone in the school community who has concerns about indoor air quality (call 802-863-7220). For more information about diagnosing indoor air quality (IAQ) problems, see the EPA’s Diagnosing IAQ Problems.We recommend that individuals with symptoms or signs of illness immediately consult with their primary medical care provider, of course, as well as with the school nurse. (Health professionals may wish to consult the EPA’s guide to Indoor Air Pollution.)
School personnel can get started with identifying and solving their indoor air quality problems by attending a four hour Envision workshop sponsored by the Vermont Department of Health and the American Lung Association.- Visit the Vermont Interactive Learning Network event calendar to find the next workshop.
School administrators, custodians, nurses and teachers can sign up for the free Envision training program to help reduce indoor air problems:
- apply online
- print the application (pdf), fill it out and mail to the address on the form.
- Referral to engineering or industrial hygiene professionals when appropriate.
Disclaimer: With regard to the sites to which this page links, the Vermont Department of Health has not conducted studies of, or otherwise reviewed, and does not recommend or endorse the products they list and makes no warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process mentioned.