Recognizing Unsafe Situations
This term describes any condition, behaviour, or environment that puts students at risk
What is an unsafe learning situation?
Teachers must do this if they think a child needs protection
What is report to Children's Aid
This provincial act outlines expectations for safe schools in Ontario
What is the Education Act?
Teachers must report these types of incidents to supervisors and sometimes police
What are violent incidents?
A student begins using a band saw without safety goggles. You also notice the saw’s guard isn’t properly secured.
Why Unsafe? Equipment, PPE, physical safety
Teacher Action? Rec: unsafe Rep: Stop, secure, notify admin, check board protocols, document. Ref: Safety checks? Are students properly trained? Do I need to reinforce safety expectations?
Bullying, allergies, and tech labs are examples of areas where teachers must ensure this
What is student safety?
Teachers cannot leave this kind of responsibility for someone else
What is reporting responsibility?
This act addresses bullying and the creation of positive and inclusive school climates
What is the Accepting Schools Act?
This type of professional boundary must be maintained at all times with students
What are professional boundaries?
A student quietly tells you, “I don’t feel safe at home. I don’t want to go back there.”
Why it’s unsafe: Poss. emotional, physical, or psych abuse. The student may need protection
Teacher action: Rec: disclosure, req immed. action. Rep: must contact Children’s Aid directly. Cannot delegate this to another staff member. Document the date, time, and words spoken—not your interpretation. Ref: Did I follow the Child and Family Services Act? Do I need support to manage future disclosures?
OCTs must use this type of judgment rooted in care, respect, trust, and integrity
What is professional judgment?
Seeing exposed wires, unsafe machinery, or unsecured chemicals means you’ve completed this “R.”
What is Recognize?
This law requires educators to report when they suspect a child may need protection
What is the Child and Family Services Act (duty to report)?
Teachers must review and understand these plans for students with medical or safety needs
What are individual safety or medical plans?
During a class livestream, you notice a student is receiving harassing comments in the chat from another student.
Why unsafe: Cyberbullying, Online harassment, Emotional and psychological harm
Teacher action: Rec: Bullying behav. occurring. Rep: Stop chat, address behaviour, follow school disc. policy, doc incident, notify administration and parents. Ref: Do students need clearer guidelines for digital conduct? Should digital citizenship be revisited?
This document outlines the ethical principles of care, respect, trust, and integrity
What are the Ethical Standards for the Teaching Profession?
Documenting who was involved, what happened, and your actions reflects this safety step
What is report?
This Ontario law outlines workplace safety expectations for teachers and other staff
What is the Occupational Health and Safety Act?
This action is required when an activity poses a clear safety risk
What is stopping the activity?
A student with a known peanut allergy begins showing signs of an allergic reaction during a field trip. No teacher sees the reaction at first; another student alerts you.
Why unsafe: Serious medical risk, Delayed response can be life-threatening, Responsibility extends beyond the school building
Teacher action: Rec: Medical hazard + symptoms of anaphylaxis. Rep: Administer EpiPen (if part of student’s plan), call emergency services, notify administration and parents/guardians, document everything. Ref: Did supervision meet expectations? Were emergency plans reviewed before the trip?
This principle requires teachers to act as a careful or prudent parent would
What is due diligence?
Asking yourself, “Did I act appropriately and according to legal expectations?” is part of this “R.”
What is Reflect?
When educators ignore or fail to act on safety concerns, it may result in this College consequence.
What is professional misconduct?
Teachers must know the locations of these safety resources, such as eyewash stations and AEDs
What are emergency or first aid items?
During a fire drill, one student is not at the designated meeting point and can’t be found with their group.
Why unsafe: A student is unaccounted for during an emergency. Serious supervision gap. A missing student could be in danger or unable to exit the school safely.
Teacher Action: Rec: Identify immediately a student is missing. Understand the urgency: any unaccounted student is a safety emergency. Rep: Alert administration, follow the school’s emergency search procedures. Provide accurate information: name, last known location, and how you identified they were missing. Continue supervising the rest of the class. After the situation is resolved, document all details (who, what, when, where, actions taken). Ref: Did I follow the evacuation protocol correctly? Was my attendance-taking procedure accurate and timely? Are additional reminders or instruction needed for students about drill expectations? Do I need further training or practice in emergency procedures?