NJ Department of Labor Launches Statewide Initiative to Strengthen Safety Standards for School Crossing Guards

TRENTON –  The New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJDOL) has launched a new initiative to strengthen safety standards for crossing guards serving in New Jersey schools and communities. The statewide safety

initiative aligns with states, municipalities and school districts across the country recognizing National Crossing Guard Awareness Day on February 12, honoring the invaluable contributions crossing guards make to keeping children, families and communities safe and secure.

Throughout the month of February, New Jersey crossing guards are being celebrated at schools including Packanack Elementary School in Passaic County (Feb. 7), Woodstown-Pilesgrove Regional School District in Salem County (Feb. 10) and Hamburg Public School District (Feb. 12) in Sussex County.

Led by the NJDOL’s Public Employees Occupational Safety and Health Bureau (PEOSH), the proactive initiative, called the Local Emphasis Program (LEP), will include comprehensive inspections of school districts and police departments across the Garden State. The initiative will focus on improving safety standards for crossing guards by providing them with essential safety protocols including high-visibility clothing and essential equipment, as well as training so they can safely perform their duties. 

“Crossing guards help keep our children and families safe and are essential to keeping drivers alert, ensuring the well-being of our communities,” said Labor Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo. “We are focused on empowering New Jersey crossing guards by providing them with robust safety tools and rigorous training so they can perform their important role in our communities safely and confidently.” 

Following a series of tragic incidents involving New Jersey crossing guards resulting in two deaths and five serious injuries, NJDOL proactively launched this enhanced safety program to better protect crossing guards across the state. 

Key safety measures covered by these inspections will include: 

• High Visibility Clothing:  Crossing guards must be provided with high visibility clothing that meets ANSI standard 107/207.
  • Safety Vest Required (ANSI 107/207)
    • Type P (Public Safety) or Type R (Road) (107)
    • Class 2 or 3 (Class 3 has more retroreflective material than Class 2) (107)
  • If weather clothing is worn over the vest, the rain jacket or similar must meet the requirements of ANSI Standard 107/207.
  • Crossing guards employed by law enforcement agencies must be provided with appropriate headgear in accordance with NJSA 40A:9-154.3. It is recommended that the headgear be high visibility. 
• Comprehensive Training:  According to NJSA 40A:9-154.2, crossing guards employed by a police department must receive two hours of classroom training and 20 hours of field training. Guards employed by a school district must receive training from a similar program.
• Essential Equipment:  Each crossing guard must be provided with an 18-inch diameter “STOP” paddle with six-inch-high reflective or illuminated letters, ensuring clear communication to drivers even in low-light conditions. 
• Pedestrian Crossing Maintenance:  Pedestrian crossings must be inspected to ensure they are free of slip, trip, and fall hazards. Additionally, inspections must confirm that road markings are visible and that crosswalk and/or school zone signage is properly maintained. 

PEOSH Safety Compliance Officers will visit schools and police departments throughout the Garden State to conduct a brief opening conference with employer and employee representatives; review injury records; conduct an inspection; and discuss findings. Compliance Officers will verify that public employers who employ crossing guards are in compliance with requirements under  N.JSA 40A:9-154.1  et. seq. and the  Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) . 

For more information on how public employers can help protect the safety and well-being of crossing guards, please visit  PEOSH Alert #39 . All public employer safety and health alerts issued by PEOSH can be accessed  here . 

For more information about the NJDOL's Office of Public Employee Occupational Safety and Health, please visit:  www.nj.gov/labor/safetyandhealth/programs-services/peosh/ .