In 2023, more than 20,600 people suffered work-related injuries in elementary and secondary schools. The leading causes? Slips, trips, and falls, and a high incidence rate of violence.
Schools need a comprehensive yet practical approach to safety. Zac Rantz, Chief Communications Officer and safety coordinator for Nixa Public Schools, shares his people-first approach to school safety. Rantz knows that the best insights often come from the people closest to the problem – you just have to ask.
Today, we’ll explore how Rantz works to identify safety issues early, empower staff to act quickly, and create a culture where employees feel heard, protected and supported.
The scope of school safety challenges
School safety goes beyond protecting students during the school day. Staff, visitors, parents, and guardians all need consideration in a school environment. The range of potential safety issues spans from simple trip hazards in hallways to complex emergency response situations.
Beyond student safety: protecting everyone on campus
An effective school safety program incorporates all these different stakeholder perspectives and potential hazards. “It’s really looking at all aspects of your school – from your employees, to your buildings, to the visitors and parents,” explained Rantz, “and really just trying to see everything from their perspective.”
Schools must be prepared for a wide variety of situations, including:
- Custodial staff working early morning hours
- Teachers managing energetic students while navigating classrooms
- Food service employees handling hot equipment, sharp tools, and slippery floors
- Office staff facing ergonomic issues from prolonged computer use
- Visitors unfamiliar with building layouts
- Emergency situations like medical events, severe weather, and active shooter scenarios
The challenge lies in addressing the wide spectrum of potential safety issues without becoming overwhelmed. “We have to plan for all of that,” said Rantz, “and that’s why school safety can sometimes be overwhelming, because all of those things are included.”
💡 Pro tip: Start by mapping out all the different groups that use your school facilities and the unique challenges each group faces. This exercise can reveal where you should focus your attention first.
Building a people-first safety reporting culture
When in doubt, start with the people closest to potential problems. Rantz boils down his approach: “I’ve learned to ask questions from people.”
Start conversations, not paperwork
Formal near miss reports have their place in a safety program – but Rantz also creates informal opportunities for staff to share concerns. During building walkthroughs, he asks custodians, office managers, paraprofessionals, and lunch staff if they’ve noticed any issues that need to be addressed.
“You’ll be amazed when they say, ‘Oh yeah, I’ve been meaning to email you,’” Rantz reflected, “and they’ll give you this golden nugget that should probably be addressed.”
To Rantz, concerns from the frontlines are top priorities. If staff are worried about safety issues, they can’t focus on educating students.
✅ Try it: Conversation starters
- “Is there anything you need from me to do your job safely?”
- “Have you noticed anything that seems like it could be a safety concern?”
- “What would make your workspace safer or easier to manage?”
Build sustainable systems
Even with good intentions, busy schedules can derail regular safety check-ins. Rantz solves this with automated monthly emails to staff members asking targeted questions about their areas of responsibility.
| Staff members | Ask about… |
| Teachers | Equipment access issues; classroom hazards |
| Custodial staff | Building maintenance concerns; equipment needs |
| Food service | Kitchen safety issues; supply shortages |
| Office staff | Ergonomic concerns; workspace hazards |
Finally, following up is crucial. Make sure people get closure through work order systems, direct communication, or visible action. This creates trust and encourages future reporting.
📍 Read next: Practical Safety Solutions for a Safer School Environment
Top 4 school safety risks every administrator should address
Wondering where to start? While getting input directly from employees is the best first step, here are four common risks likely to surface in your school environment.
1. Slips and trips
Many injuries in schools happen when people lose their footing. Rantz’s team analyzed their work comp claims to identify the most common times and settings for these types of injuries – then worked on prevention.
Strategies to prevent slips and trips:
- Sending reminders before high-risk periods (wet weather, floor cleaning schedules)
- Reminding staff about appropriate footwear for weather and work
- Designating single entrances that have been properly cleared during inclement weather
- Notify staff when floors will be cleaned and restrict access to slippery areas
Slips and trips often involve soft tissue damage that can keep employees off work for extended periods, making them costly for both the individual and the district.
2. Unsafe improvisation due to missing equipment
Teachers are busy. If it comes down to standing on a chair or taking 10 minutes to retrieve a ladder from a custodial closet, many will choose the chair.
When proper equipment and tools aren’t available or accessible, improvisation becomes the practical path. Unfortunately, it can cause incidents like strains, sprains, and falls from heights.
Rantz encouraged safety officers to ask why before saying don’t. “Why are teachers feeling like they have to put chairs on top of desks to hang things?” He asked. “Well, that’s because there’s only one ladder in the entire building.”
➡️ The bottom line: Digging into why people are using unsafe shortcuts gets you to the root cause of the problem instead of issuing rules that don’t stick. Often, the fix (e.g., buying a few more ladders) is straightforward and less costly than a claim.
3. Emergency preparedness gaps
Most schools practice emergency drills in ideal conditions – when administrators are present and schedules are normal. But real emergencies don’t follow this pattern.
“Everything will happen when the principal is out of the building,” Rantz mused. His team addresses this by conducting surprise drills during challenging times: first hour, passing periods, and when key administrators are absent.
Support real-life preparedness by:
- Practicing drills during non-ideal conditions
- Ensuring non-administrative staff can lead responses
- Testing communication systems in a variety of scenarios
4. Cultural barriers to reporting
If staff don’t feel comfortable reporting concerns, administrators remain blind to developing problems. This often stems from past experiences where concerns were dismissed or ignored.
Building trust requires:
- Asking follow-up questions to understand root causes
- Taking action on reported concerns
- Making informal reporting as acceptable as formal processes
- Regular, scheduled check-ins vs. waiting for problems to surface
📍 Resource download: School Faculty & Staff Safety Rules
A simple formula for school safety success
A people-first approach turns safety into a collaborative effort instead of a top-down compliance exercise. Those closest to potential problems become your most valuable safety partners.
“When you have that kind of culture in your buildings and in your district, you will find the safety things you need to do to keep your students and your employees safe,” Rantz concluded.
The key isn’t having all the answers. It’s creating an environment where the right questions get asked and the people with insights feel heard.
Start with informal conversations, use technology to maintain consistency, and always follow up on concerns. Most importantly, dig down to the why behind unsafe behaviors before simply telling people to stop.
Does your safety culture check all the boxes? Download our comprehensive school safety checklist: End-of-year school safety checklist >