Safety is always a priority in the Family and Consumer Sciences classrooms. On the first day of school, course syllabi/handbooks are distributed and discussed with students. Parents/Guardians are responsible for reviewing the student handbook and must complete and return the final parent signature page.

A “Safety Guidelines” section in each handbook includes:

·         Students must be in compliance with Fairfax County Student Responsibilities and Rights (SR & R).

·         Safety Guidelines are posted in each classroom.

·         Students must be in compliance with any unit specific safety guidelines as instructed by the teacher.

In addition, the Crisis Management Security Plan is in place at Hayfield and mandated by all Fairfax County Public Schools. The Crisis Management Security Plan is posted in all classrooms near the door, along with procedures for fire exits and tornado and severe storm shelters.  Teachers have received instruction on this emergency management plan, which deals with evacuation, securing the building, lockdown situations, hazardous material incidents, suspicious persons, and severe weather.  The EFE instructor is prepared in basic first aid with antiseptic wipes, band-aids, disposable gloves, and a calm demeanor.  Students know that they must report any accidents for basic first aid treatment immediately. If further treatment is necessary, an emergency button, telephone, and clinic pass are available.  The school clinic responds efficiently to emergencies and an online accident report must be completed immediately by the teacher. 

Additionally in Education for Employment, a unit on Maintaining a Safe and Healthy Work Environment includes five related student competencies as follows: 031/Identify general safety and health rules/procedures (including OSHA); 032/Identify safety guidelines for equipment used in the workplace; 033/Follow workplace emergency procedures; 034/Maintain a clean and safe work area; and 035/Identify hazards in the work area.  All of these benchmarks are met using the CareerSafe program paid for by the Fairfax County CTE administrative office.  The 10 hour CareerSafe course is an interactive online program that addresses the high priority safety needs of young workers. This program was developed to address the need to assist America’s youth in preparing to enter the workforce.  Statistics show that one teen is killed on the job every 5 days.  In addition there are 70 work-related fatalities each year involving young people according to the National Institute of Occupational Safety.  In addition, more than 200,000 young workers are injured on the job annually; 70, 000 of them requiring emergency room treatment.  Career Safe was developed to address the need to assist young people avoid unnecessary injury and perhaps death in the workplace. 

CareerSafe consists of 20 training modules with various safety topics. An outline of the CareerSafe program available at http://www.careersafeonline.com for further review.

Upon completion of the CareerSafe online course, students receive a wallet safety card and printed certificate of completion.  The wallet safety card demonstrates to employers that the student has the fundamental safety knowledge needed in a workplace.  Home Depot, Lowes, Target, and some local restaurants require CareerSafe as part of their new employee training program.  If an EFE student has the safety card when applying for a job at one of these businesses, she/he has a competitive edge over others and are often hired first or given a higher starting salary.  A currently employed EFE student can show her/his employer the completed safety credentials and perhaps receive an hourly wage increase. 

Educational rewards of the CareerSafe program are that Education for Employment students develop a safety mindset by completion of the program and experience firsthand an online class format of learning, which most students will encounter in obtaining a college education or future job related training.