Safety Report: Covid-19 OSHA Complaint, DISTRICT OFFICE, 14692 179th Ave SE, MONROE, WA, 98272, USA

14692 179th Avenue Southeast, Monroe, 98272 Washington, United States

Multiple complaints alleged involving varied facilities: Facilities specified - - - 1. FRANK WAGNER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL; 38 staff members exposed 2. MALTBY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL; 24 staff members exposed 3. HIDDEN RIVER ELEMNTARY SCHOOL; 14 staff members exposed 4. FRYELANDS ELEMNTARY SCHOOL; 25 staff members exposed 5. CHAIN LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL; 19 staff members exposed 6. PARK PLACE MIDDLE SCHOOL; 20 staff members exposed 7. SALEM WOODS SCHOOL; 14 staff members exposed 8. MONROE HIGH SCHOOL; 24 staff members exposed Complaints: 1. Employees who work in close contact with students who have been self-isolated or quarantined due to possible or confirmed COVID cases are not notified. Most recently, 39 students and 3 adults were quarantined due to possible exposure at one elementary school. The district does not have a clear plan for identifying which possibly impacted employees are notified. 2. Employees performing high-risk work without proper PPE, including those employees working with special education students who cannot wear masks and with who they frequently must interact with, with less than 3 feet of distance. Employees are not being provided all proper PPE, including properly fitted N95 masks or have been trained on using alternatives. 3. Employees working with students in medium risk categories (students can wear face coverings, but physical distancing not possible for sustained periods) provided with KN95 masks and/ or face shields but no training on proper use and maintenance of masks and shields has occurred. 4. Not all face coverings of individuals in the workspace meet the DOH guidance and mask wearing is not consistently adhered to. There is a lack of evidence that high touch areas are being cleaned or sanitized throughout the day. Shared spaces are not cleaned between uses. No clear plan for limiting exposure for staff working with multiple groups of students. 5. District has not maintained written worksite specific respiratory protection programs, as required in WAC 296-842-12005. 6. Employer has not provided appropriate PPE or training consistent with WAC 296-842 to employees who would be tasked with monitoring students isolated due to COVID19 symptoms 7. Worksite does not have a safety committee and no records exists for the safety committee. 8. Employer has not identified or published information to employees on isolation of students with COVID symptoms and what happens to students who have symptoms. 9. Individuals with symptoms are not being required to self-isolate for the period that is recommended per the Department of Health or certification from a health care provider. 10. No clear plan for how the areas where exposure has occurred will be cleaned and sanitized. 11. Employee told to report to work under unsafe working conditions and afraid to go to work due to COVID 19. 50+ students and teachers are in a 14 day quarantine due to an outbreak of COVID 19. 12. Some employees received a letter from the Human Resources Department suggesting they could be terminated if they didtn't show up for work. 13. A common thread throughout the complaints is fear of retaliation by the District if complaints are filed. 14. The Union has brought these concerns forward to the district multiple times since October 9, 2020, including the most recent attempt to resolve them on November 15, 2020. At that time the district admitted that they not adequately address the concerns raised. The district continues to increase the number of staff and students reporting to the building without having put plans in place nor providing training. This is at a time when numbers of COVID cases in the schools and community is increasing at alarming rates, some due to not following recommendations of the DOH.


Source: Osha.gov | Receipt Date: 2020-11-16