Questar III is one of 131 Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) and school districts in New York State to receive the Utica National Insurance Group’s “School Safety Excellence Award” for 2015.
Utica National officials presented the award to Questar III BOCES at its 35th annual school safety seminar in Saratoga Springs, NY. This is the seventh consecutive year that Questar III has been honored. Questar III received a certificate from the insurance company to commemorate the organization’s safety efforts.
Questar III’s Health and Safety Service provides safety and security audits, program development, training and consultation to assist school districts in compliance with a number of state and federal mandates, including emergency management planning, blood-borne pathogens, hazard communication, personal protective equipment, lockout/tagout, indoor air quality investigation, pest management and playground inspections. The service also provides on-site consultation, emergency notification communication and AED/CPR/First Aid training.
Utica National’s School Safety Excellence Award Program helps participating schools and BOCES enhance their overall safety through measurable assessment. The program evaluates school districts and BOCES on several categories, from playground safety to indoor air quality, with specific, quantifiable data-gathering surveys.
“Safety and health concerns continue to be a priority in our school districts,” Utica National Regional Manager Mark Aquino said. “Districts that go ‘above and beyond’ to provide a safe, healthy and focused culture for learning are to be applauded, and we’re pleased to count Questar III BOCES among them.”
Aquino also noted that an added benefit of following the safety program is the chance to pinpoint specific threats to safety.
