Keeping the Public Informed
These days, parents and the general public want and need to be kept informed as to what's occurring in their local schools. Indeed, with asbestos lawsuits on the rise, administrators must make sure they do everything possible to keep parents abreast of asbestos information in the school their child attends, even if there are no asbestos concerns at a given time.
Educating Parents
The best and most efficient way to be sure that parents are informed about asbestos issues is to hold a meeting designed to educate them about the asbestos guidelines in place to keep their children safe. This is the time to explain the mandates of the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) and how those rules serve to protect their children. At this meeting, which should be held annually, the administration should also:
- Introduce the asbestos manager for each district or school - Parents should understand that this person has been professionally trained to oversee a school's asbestos program and that he/she is serving as the designated liaison between the school and the general public in regards to asbestos-related activities. Any concerns should be addressed to him/her.
- Be sure that asbestos records are available to parents and the general public - The public has right of access to asbestos records for each school. For that reason, those documents should be readily available when requested and the asbestos manager should make sure that they are always up-to-date.
- Stress the safety of the school - No one likes to hear the words "school" and "asbestos" in the same sentence, but parents and other members of the public need to know that properly maintained asbestos is safe asbestos.
For parents who are unable to attend meetings, paperwork containing the same information should be available at their request.
A school or school district's website is also an ideal place to post general asbestos information. Internet savvy parents can read the same information that may be presented to them at a meeting without leaving the convenience of their home or workplace.
However, any notices about specific asbestos issues like repair of asbestos-containing materials or asbestos abatement, should be mailed or sent home with students to insure proper notification.
