Darlington’s facilities services department recently obtained a perfect score on its annual safety audit, which is conducted by the National Safety Foundation, an independent third party.
According to Keith Raker, director of facilities services, the audit looks at over 50 different components, including checking to be sure that there is an established safety plan, a safety committee and ongoing employee training, to name a few. An organization must score a 90 in order to pass the audit.
“We’ve got a safety box so that all the components of what they are looking for are there in one place,” Raker said. “This includes the documentation of our annual background checks for bus drivers, signed safety policies, monthly building inspections, monthly employee safety training, etc. We take safety very seriously. Our primary goal is to provide a safe environment for the faculty, staff and students at Darlington. We strive to get employees involved in every level of our safety plan so that it’s not just the management who see the value of it.”
Last year, Darlington’s facilities team scored a 99 on the safety audit, so Raker was thrilled to receive a perfect score this year.
“About six or seven years ago, a 75 was passing, but corporate has really pushed their accounts to do better,” Raker said. “Our score is something to celebrate! It’s not easy to get a 100; you really have to work hard.”
