How do the Ontario Physical Activity Safety Standards in Education Support Schools?

Group of six elementary students of various genders and races with their teacher inside a school gymnasium. They are raising one knee and the opposite arm to mimic the act of running.

As we continue to move through the school year, we’re sharing our platform with the Ontario School Boards' Insurance Exchange (OSBIE) to provide you with some risk management tips related to activity management and injury prevention for physical education, intramurals, and interschool sports.

Review the Ontario Physical Activity Safety Standards in Education Activity Pages 

The Ontario Physical Activity Safety Standards in Education (OPASSE) are designed to assist and guide teachers/coaches in leading school activities. Adhering to the OPASSE is a minimum standard of care expected of all school board personnel including temporary staff and/or volunteers involved in physical education, intramurals, and interschool sports.  

Indoor Facility Safety  

  • Determine that there is enough space around benches for safe movement.  
  • Ensure wall mats/protective padding are in place for sports such as basketball.  
  • School board staff who are not familiar with the operations related to divider doors/curtains should refrain from opening/closing divider doors/curtains until instructional support is received from appropriate staff.  

OPASSE provides a sample safety checklist for gymnasium facilities which can be used as a guide.  

Outdoor Facility Safety  

It is recommended that school board staff do a visual check of outdoor facilities before the activity/sport to determine this it is safe for participation. If hazards exist, the conditions must be made safe, or the activity must be modified or moved to a safe location.  

  • Benches/Bleachers are free of protruding nails, splinters, cracked or rotted wood.  
  • Asphalt areas are level and free of holes and broken asphalt.  
  • Grass and dirt areas free of holes and ruts.  
  • Activity areas are clear of broken glass, cans, rocks, animal feces, etc.  
  • Activity areas are clear of trip hazards (for example, exposed footings, roots, or other environmental obstacles).  

OPASSE provides a sample safety checklist for outdoor facilities, which can be used as a guide.  

Equipment Check  

It is recommended that school board staff perform a visual check of equipment before the activity/sport to determine that it is in safe playing condition. Any broken equipment must be removed or repaired.  

OPASSE provides a sample safety checklist for gymnasium equipment which can be used as a guide.  

Skills and Training  

Reassessment and a skills refresher for participants may be required.  

Progressive training plays an important role in skills development for students, most notably for sporting activities, which carry an inherent risk of injury. It allows students to build on their learned experience to achieve a new skill, such as safe blocking and tackling techniques in football.  

Injury Response Protocols  

  • Ensure First Aid certification is up to date.  
  • Ensure On-Site First Aid kits are present and fully stocked.  
  • Consider using OPASSE’s Sample Portable Off-Site Kit Contents  
  • Review your school board’s injury, emergency response, and concussion policies, procedures, and protocols.  
  • Advise families that the school board does not provide accidental death, disability, dismemberment, or medical expense insurance on behalf of the students participating in any school activity. Student accident insurance is recommended.  

Planning and implementing safe physical activity programs can be complex and challenging. OPASSE provides up-to-date information to support the planning and implementing of safe practices.  Taking the time to review the different sections of OPASSE and the content within each section can help you stay up to date and current in your safety practices.    

If you have additional safety questions, you can:     

  • Contact your School Board’s Safety Contact; or    
  • Submit a question using Ask Ophea: School boards, school leaders and teachers may use this feature to ask safety questions or seek clarification related to the safety standards. Submit your question and a member of the Ophea safety team will provide a response.