Abatement in Schools
If a school is diligently following the guidelines of the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA), they will be able to detect and address any problems with asbestos as soon as they arise. With a responsible and informed AHERA person in place, as is mandated by the law, schools have a trained individual on site who is able to immediately respond to concerns lodged by faculty, staff, parents, and students concerning asbestos exposure and can quickly put procedures in place to insure safe containment or removal of the material.
Safe Abatement
The proper removal of asbestos is a serious issue, especially when the health of students is at risk. Unfortunately, it can also be an expensive proposition, tempting some schools to cut corners, only to face penalties later and potential lawsuits from students, staff, and faculty.
Before a school decides to attempt abatement, they should consider three other options that may cure the problem and eliminate the concern. Schools may first attempt to repair any damaged asbestos or asbestos casing. Asbestos may also be sprayed with a sealant - called encapsulation - to prevent the fibers from spreading. Another method, enclosure, which involves placing a barrier around the material, might also be considered.
However, if it is determined that abatement is the only solution, there are several issues to consider. The first issue to be addressed in asbestos abatement is finding a licensed, reputable asbestos abatement company to complete the job. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has 10 regional offices that can recommend companies in a specific locale that can do the job properly and in a timely manner.
Most important, however, is protecting students during asbestos removal. Obviously, the ideal situation would be to complete the abatement during the summer months or during an extended holiday, when the students are not present in the building. Unfortunately, that isn't always feasible.
If asbestos must be removed during the school year, abatement professionals must follow strict guidelines for the safety of everyone in the building. The abatement area should be partitioned from the occupied areas using plywood and plastic sheeting and only the abatement team should be allowed to enter that room once the process begins. Proper enclosure should prevent escape of asbestos fibers.
To further avoid allowing asbestos fibers to circulate through the occupied areas of the school, abatement professionals use a "negative air" machine that draws air from the abatement area and sends it through a series of high-efficiency filters in order to remove asbestos fibers and dust. This ensures that air does not flow out of the abatement area except through the filters. Any vents in the room connected to the ventilation system should also be blocked.
Regular air testing should occur throughout the process to insure that no fibers are leaked into the occupied areas. These should be done by an independent company, separate from the abatement contractors. Air testing should also be done again after the removal is complete.
If all EPA guidelines are followed, abatement should not present a risk to those in the building.
Last modified: December 17 2007.
