Accidents and injuries involving students, employees, or others using school facilities or equipment can result in lengthy and costly litigation. A proven way to reduce potential accidents and injuries is to work to eliminate the circumstances in which accidents occur. It is important to identify risks; the areas with the highest accident potential are: playgrounds, gymnasiums and athletic fields, industrial art shops, science laboratories, theater stage areas, and lunchrooms. School systems can protect against negligence charges by identifying risks and giving high priority to preventing injuries through established policies and regulations addressing accident prevention. Failure to supervise properly is the basis for most negligence suits. Providing proper supervision gives the school system a defensible position. Before students can participate in sports, a physical examination should be required. Regular inspections for hazardous conditions are essential. Established special emergency procedures with alternative backup plans are essential. There should be a process established for documenting all accidents and injuries; board members should be notified of serious injuries. Periodic reports from legal counsel on legislation and court decisions that may influence local safety policies and procedures are also helpful. (MD)