Graffiti removal – safe cleanup and prevention

In the Classified Consultation meetings, discussion continues about safe cleanup of graffiti. The Alliance’s Consultation team has been advocating for proper protective equipment for custodians to use in the cleanup of graffiti, for proper posting of MSDS (materials safety data sheets), and for MSDS training. MSDS provide information regarding the chemicals of a substance (such as a cleaning substance) and provide workers with the procedures for handling and working with a substance in a safe manner.

The administration acknowledged that the MSDS are not being posted where the product is available as should be occurring. The Alliance has specifically expressed concerns about SprayPak, a graffiti removal product. The Alliance wants workers to be provided with respirators for use with this product. The administration has stated that respirators are not required, only recommended, under the MSDS. Additionally, the Alliance has raised the concern about use of latex gloves with this SprayPak, contending that alcohol-based gloves are necessary. The Alliance has recommended use of green cleaning products but the administration says that custodians have said that the green products do not work as well for removing the graffiti. Discussion will continue.

A good discussion has also taken place on how to prevent graffiti. Graffiti removal costs the district thousands and thousands of dollars annually. The biggest problem is at the middle school level. Numerous ideas as well as questions have been generated including:

Can students clean up graffiti as consequence? Can this consequence be added to the Student Code of Conduct? Would it be considered corporal punishment? Principals could offer a choice of cleaning it up or being arrested. Could we approach judges about making clean-up part of the punishment?
Have a contest for each middle school to develop a graffiti prevention action plan using students, student leaders? Solicit donations for the prize for the contest. Share back out to all middle schools the ideas that surface from the contest.
Work will continue at the February Consultation meeting. Please share any ideas you have for graffiti prevention with Rachel Martinez at rachelm@sanantonioalliance.org or by calling the Alliance office, 225-7174.

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Nov. 18, 2008