Puget Sound school district cited for improper asbestos handling

Sep 10, 2009

The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency (PSCAA) cited the Puyallup School District for failing to follow proper asbestos handling procedures during remodeling at Northwood Elementary School in Washington. While installing cubbies in the 35-year old school building, asbestos was found trapped in the glue that was attached to rubber wall molding. Once the asbestos, a known carcinogen, was detected, school district officials immediately performed air testing. The tests determined that the asbestos levels were below the legally acceptable level. The school has responded to the citation and taken strict control measures to prevent this from happening in the future.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was notified by the PSCAA of the citation, but a formal investigation has not yet begun. Strict regulations govern asbestos in schools, including the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Act of 1986 (AHERA) and the Asbestos School Hazard Abatement Reauthorization Act of 1990 (ASHARA).

AHERA requires schools to perform an initial inspection and follow-up inspections of asbestos-containing material every three years; develop an asbestos management plan; provide annual notifications to parents, teachers and employee organizations pertaining to the availability of the asbestos management plan and any asbestos abatement plans or actions; designate a contact person to ensure that their responsibilities are implemented properly; and perform occasional surveillance of suspected or known asbestos-containing building materials. School custodians must also be trained in asbestos awareness. ASHARA requires that asbestos work done in schools, public buildings and commercial buildings must be performed by accredited personnel.

A parent who had pulled her first grader out of school because of safety concerns determined that the project manager was not asbestos accredited.

For the full story, go to Fife Free Press.

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