Manual
Click here to download and read/use Manual Update #43-1 for Calendar Year 2021/Fall 2021 Reopening (2021-22 School year). To support NJ school districts and schools re-opening local and county campuses, classrooms, gyms, laboratories and shops for in-person learning (general education, work-based learning, extracurricular activities, etc.), we wanted to remind our colleagues in administration and designated persons roles (facilities, operations and maintenance, Right to Know, etc.) of resources available online for free to assist walk-through assessments. Manual checklists have always been for use during periodic assessments.
The Safe Schools Manual is a manual of self-inspection checklists covering environmental, health and safety regulations for secondary occupational and career orientation programs in New Jersey public schools. It was originally developed by the Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute with support by the New Jersey Department of Education. It has been maintained by the School of Public Health at Rutgers, The State University of NJ.
The Manual is intended to assist schools in meeting regulatory requirements, but does not cover all hazards, regulations or school responsibilities. It remains the school's responsibility to ensure a safe and healthful environment and to comply with relevant federal, New Jersey, and local regulations.
The Manual has been updated 1-2 times each year since is initial release to reflect changes in regulations. Through spring 2019, 41 updates were issued. In summer 2020, update 42 was the matrix redesign of these webpages. Updates are provided to every county career-technical-vocational school district, comprehensive high school, and junior-senior high school district in New Jersey. Updates have also been provided to any public and private schools who sent a representative to past Safe Schools Program and Manual trainings.
The New Jersey Safe Schools Manual was available via mobile app download in Google Play until 12/2020; prior to 2019-2020, it was accessible via Apple (may still work on older devices but cannot be updated). The name of the app is "NJ SS Manual" if you want to look it up directly for free download in Google Play or in iTunes.
If you wish to receive assistance in printing your own copy, given no more print copies remain, please contact us at cscbre@sph.rutgers.edu or call (732) 235-4988 or (732) 235-9095. Please feel free to download the electronic pdf files listed below. The most recent printed versions of the Manual were split into two volumes. Volume 1 included everything except the checklists. Volume 2 included checklists.