Worksite Visit Guidelines

(Source: Beaverton School District)

The following guidelines apply to all Career Related Learning Experiences (CRLE). They apply, but to a lesser extent, to Job Shadows and Site Visits.

Some CRLE's will be known to the school coordinator due to established ongoing business relationships. Other CRLE's will be new to the school coordinators and may either come about by prospecting a new lead or by a student identifying the opportunity and asking permission to learn at that new business.

For businesses that are well known to the coordinator, a telephone relationship is sufficient. It is important to ask if there have been any changes in the work environment since the coordinator has last visited the business or interviewed by the phone the business contact. Even with well-establish businesses, the coordinator should try to visit the business once every three years.

If there have been any major changes at a business site, a visit should be conducted to establish that the changes will not create an unsafe environment for students.

For businesses that are new or unknown to the coordinator, a telephone screening is essential before placing a student in that business. Depending on the nature of the business activities, a personal visit to the employer's work site may be necessary. The greater the exposure to accidents or injuries the greater need for a personal site visit and evaluation.

Examples:

1. Whenever a student may work around energy, i.e. mechanical heat, electrical or chemical energy an on site evaluation is required.
2. Where hazards are minimal, i.e. office or retail work, it may be sufficient to only conduct a telephone screening. However, the coordinator should be alert to the need for an on site visit depending on the answers given during the telephone screening.

Throughout the school term, there may be assignments that will merit unannounced drop-by-spot checks. These should include an observation of the work environment, a visit with the business contact and a conversation with the student to make sure the student has the opportunity to report any problem or concern they may have. Written records of these spot checks should be kept with all the other records.

Lastly, it is important for the coordinator to review the student evaluations of their work experiences. Whenever a student reports a questionable safety issued to the STC coordinator or teacher the situation should be reported immediately to the building administrator or district Risk Manager. You should not assign any more students to that business until the safety issued is resolved.