Asbestos Found in Enid, Oklahoma Elementary School
Asbestos was recently discovered in the south building of Coolidge Elementary School in Enid, Oklahoma during the building’s renovation, promoting the school board to seek assistance for asbestos abatement. Though abatement means an additional $92,007 in expenses for the building project, but the school board approved the measure earlier this week despite the cost.
Currently, the building is sealed off from the rest of the school and work will soon begin on proper abatement of the asbestos. The removal will include the all existing gypsum board ceilings and tile ceilings, as well as in ceiling spray in the insulation.
After finding suspicious materials during the renovation, the school board called in some experts, who found asbestos in the abandoned boiler in the school’s mechanical room and on pipe insulation throughout the classrooms, hallway and boiler room.
Asbestos can be common in buildings that were built prior to the 1970s. Though the presence of asbestos in the building isn’t harmful for people, once the asbestos is disturbed, such as during renovations, the material can become airborne. If inhaled by people, the asbestos can become lodged in their lungs and, after decades of dormancy, develop into asbestos cancers, such as mesothelioma.
