School Asbestos Removal Safe, Officials Say
Parents who are concerned about asbestos abatement at the Hammarskjold Middle School in East Brunswick, NJ shouldn’t be worried about exposure, district officials say.
According to an article in the Home News Tribune, asbestos will be removed from the school while the students are off for spring break. There will be no safety hazard to students and staff when they return to school next Monday and no work will be done while school is in session, district spokeswoman Patricia LaDuca told concerned parents, faculty, and staff.
“The contractors are certified and experienced in this type of work, and licensed professionals will oversee the removal and monitor and test air quality to ensure that the regulatory standards are met,” she said in an e-mail.
Parents found out about the abatement on April 15 via a letter that went home to all families. Some expressed immediate concern about potential contamination, calling the newspaper with questions about the process.
LaDuca told the Home News Tribune that “the process is highly regulated by federal, state and OSHA, or Occupational Safety and Health Administration, standards.”
The asbestos is being removed in preparation for a total demolition of that particular wing of the school, which will occur during the summer. New additions will be built and should open by September.
Most laws governing demolition demand that asbestos be removed before a building is demolished. If asbestos is not removed, the damaged material could result in the spread of dangerous asbestos dust during the demolition process. The inhalation of asbestos fibers is known to cause mesothelioma cancer and other pulmonary diseases.
