Health and Safety Guide for K-12 Schools in Washington State

The Health & Safety Guide for K-12 Schools in Washington State (2024) is a comprehensive, state-sanctioned reference intended to help school district facility managers, state education representatives, and local health jurisdictions systematically assess, maintain, and remediate school environments. Developed jointly by the Washington State Department of Health and OSPI, it consolidates applicable state statutes, model building, plumbing, fire, and mechanical codes, and evidence-based best practices across more than a dozen critical domains.

General Procedures (Section A) establish protocols for coordinated inspections, data review (building age, enrollment, prior health reports), and interagency plan review to ensure alignment with code requirements and stakeholder communication channels.

A major focus is on Indoor Air Quality (Section F) and HVAC Preventative Maintenance (Section G), where the guide references ASHRAE ventilation standards, humidity and temperature set-points, and recommends ongoing monitoring of CO₂, moisture, and particulate levels to preempt mold, VOC off-gassing, and allergen buildup. Detailed IAQ Best Management Practices include the use of HEPA vacuums, walk-off mats, and planned filter replacements.

Appendices provide inspection protocols, roles and responsibilities, and a Q&A on environmental health issues, making the guide an actionable tool for site-based safety committees. By embedding legal requirements alongside practical checklists and best practices, this guide equips facility leaders and state representatives with a unified framework for maintaining safe, code-compliant, and health-protective learning environments.