Illinois EPA Holds Environmental Health and Safety Workshops

STREAMWOOD — The Illinois EPA, on March 2,  will host the fourth of five environmental health and safety workshops across the state focused on educating teachers and administrators about the importance of using less hazardous and non-toxic materials and how to safely handle, store, and dispose of chemicals typically used in science labs, art rooms, and shop classes. 

 

Many school personnel may not be formally trained in the proper use and management of chemicals.   The day-long workshop at the Tefft Middle School in Streamwood is designed to answer chemical management questions that administrators, teachers, and facility managers have and will include presentations by staff from the Illinois EPA, Illinois Department of Public Heath, Illinois Waste Management and Research Center, and Monona Rossol, founder and president of Arts, Crafts and Theater Safety, a non-profit corporation devoted to health and safety in the arts.

 

"Many of these materials can affect the environment during use or disposal," said Doug Scott, director of Illinois EPA.  " These workshops provide educators with the information they need to keep the environment free of toxic chemicals and keep students and staff safe."

 

Educators will also be provided with information on best practices for safely using hazardous educational materials, as well as green cleaning and ventilation techniques, and safe air quality limits.

 

"This workshop condenses into a single day everything teachers need to be well-informed about their materials, to select safer substitutes when available, to keep schools in compliance with environmental laws, and keep their students safe," said Monona Rossol.

 

Hazardous education waste reduction  and education are important components of the Illinois EPA's overall effort to make our environment and learning environment safer.  Nearly 1,000 teachers have attended one of 35 safe chemicals in education workshops held throughout the state.  Since 1996, the Illinois EPA has conducted 631 Hazardous Education Waste Collections serving more than 409 communities disposing of more than 1,695 fifty-five gallon drum equivalents of toxic materials.

 

Illinois Waste Management and Research Center, School District U-46, and the Kane County Regional Office of Education will co-sponsor the program. 

 

For further information visit the Illinois EPA web site at www.epa.state.il.us or contact Becky Lockart at Becky.Lockart@illinois.gov. 

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