3701-54-02 Purpose, scope and authority.

(A) The purpose of the school inspection rules is to provide minimum standards and procedures for inspection of schools to identify conditions within the school building and grounds that may be injurious to the safety or health of building occupants. The rules shall establish a consistent application of inspection standards and procedures throughout the state.

(B) The scope of the rules for school inspections shall include inspection of all areas of school buildings and associated grounds. The inspection shall include a review of documentation that the school has inspected for dangerous products and conditions, including recalled products, identified by the board of health using the list supplied by the director.

(C) Division (B) of section 3707.26 and section 3701.935 of the Revised Code authorize the director to adopt rules establishing minimum standards for inspections.

The authority to conduct inspections in accordance with these rules is granted under section 3707.26 of the Revised Code which states “the board of health of a city or general health district shall conduct sanitary inspections of all schools and school buildings within their jurisdiction on an annual basis, or more often if in its judgment it is necessary” and under section 3701.931 of the Revised Code which states “each board of health, in addition to or in concert with inspections conducted under section 3707.03 or 3707.26 of the Revised Code, shall inspect each public and nonpublic school building and associated grounds within its jurisdiction at least once each year to identify conditions dangerous to public health and safety present in or on the building or grounds.” Pursuant to section 3701.931 of the Revised Code, these rules expand the sanitary inspection to include safety and environmental health inspections. Inspections conducted pursuant to those rules constitute the practice of environmental health for registered sanitarians as set forth in section 4736.01 of the Revised Code.

Effective: 09/27/2007

R.C. 119.032 review dates: 09/27/2012

Promulgated Under: 119.03

Statutory Authority: 3701.935

Rule Amplifies: 3701.931, 3701.935