School Facility Safety Checklist: Assessing the Safety & Security of School Buildings

As a school facility manager, it’s important to perform a check of your school to make sure it’s a safe and secure environment for students and faculty. Performing a check of your facility is beneficial in that it will show you the strengths and weaknesses of the building, which if left unchecked, could compromise the safety and security of the building. Using this checklist, you can identify any problems with your facility that you can correct to ensure that the environment is safe and secure.

Checking the Exterior of Your School

It’s always good to start from the outside and work your way in. Taking a walk around the grounds can provide a great deal of insight into any issues that need to be corrected. Make sure:

• All pathways and entrances are clear of debris and obstructions.

• Fire hydrants are on site and easily accessible for emergencies.

• Bus waiting areas are safe and secure and away from vehicle pathways.

• Hiding places are eliminated or minimized along walkways.

• Recreational and playground areas are protected by fencing.

• Exterior lightings are vandal-resistant and provide adequate illumination on paths.

Assessing the Interior

After you’ve gone down the list and checked the exterior of the school, you’ll want to begin working your way inside to start determining any flaws with the interior of your school. You’ll want to ensure that:

• All doorways are easily accessible and their locks are functioning properly.

• Visitors pass through a screening area before granted access to the rest of the facility.

• Wings and areas of the school can be readily secured.

• Signs provide clear directions to designated areas.

• High-value targets like computers, musical equipment, and chemicals are protected by locks and an alarm system.

• Windows provide natural surveillance, as well as security when locked.

• Smoke detectors are present and functional.

Checking the Restrooms & Locker Rooms

Assessing the bathrooms is important, because you need to check and see if there are any factors that are affecting the air quality. If left unchecked, poor air quality can lead to health complications like irritated eyes and noses, skin irritation, and even respiratory issues. You should check your bathrooms and locker rooms to see if:

• Facilities are well lit and fixtures have vandal-proof covers.

• Durable stalls and partitions are properly in place and ADA compliant and provide adequate privacy for occupants.

• Restrooms and locker rooms can’t be locked from the outside.

• Mold isn’t present on partitions, sinks, or walls.

• No foul odors are present in bathroom or locker rooms.

• Locker rooms and bathrooms have good mechanical ventilation.

• Soap, toilet tissue, and paper towels are visibly accessible.

Was this checklist helpful? For more information, check out our blog article, Creating a Safe Learning Environment through Facility Maintenance and Management.