Environmental Health

Lab Safety

• Montana Department of Environmental Quality: Hazardous Waste 
  Evaluating Chemicals, Inventorying/Safety, Disposal, Resources
• School Chemistry Laboratory Safety Guide
  CDC, Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
• Environmental Protection Agency: Healthy School Environments

Playground Safety

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) estimates that 205,860 children receive emergency department care for injuries that occurred on playground equipment. The majority of these injuries involve equipment at schools (45%). 

Public Playground Safety Handbook- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Safety on the Playground: How can I keep my child safe on the playground?- American Academy of Pediatrics

Air Quality

• AirNow- for updates on local air quality conditions
• Montana Pollution Prevention Program Healthy and Safe Schools-Checklists, Posters, Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools
• Montana Department of Environmental Quality: Clean Air Zone Montana
  Clean Air Zone Montana is a statewide program aimed at reducing children’s exposure to school bus diesel exhaust by discouraging idling of buses and other vehicles and encouraging use of alternative fuels in school buses
• Todaysair.mt.gov- The Today’s Air website provides near-real time fine particulate related air quality information to the public on an hourly basis. 

Other Information

• Clean School Bus U.S.A.
  The web site of the Environment Protection Agency includes information on idle reduction, retrofitting, and replacement. You can also request free outreach materials from the EPA to help with your program.
  • EPA Idle Free Schools Toolkit
    The Idle Free Schools Toolkit includes all of the information needed to run an effective idling reduction campaign at a school in order to reduce student exposure to toxic vehicle exhaust.
  • Fuel Savings Calculator
    Use the EPA’s Fuel Savings Calculator to find out how much Fuel and Money you could save by implementing a no idling policy.
  • The U.S. Department of Energy
    The U.S. department of Energy website provides information on using alternative fuels in school bus fleets. Read several success stories of school bus fleet transitions to alternative fuels.
  • The American Lung Association
    View resources from the American Lung Association on creating asthma friendly schools and reducing air pollution for all students and staff in the school environment.