PrintIn response to the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act of 1987 (AHERA), school districts across the nation have spent millions of dollars removing asbestos. AHERA also ordered school districts to inspect for asbestos and develop a management plan. Most have followed the law. However, many school buildings still contain asbestos, often in heating and cooling systems, tile floors and insulation. Custodial and maintenance staff face the greatest risk when they clean up asbestos-containing material or disturb existing asbestos when they do small repair jobs.
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What you can do: • Inform your physician if you believe that you have been exposed to asbestos during your career. Asbestos disease takes a long time to develop. She or he may recommend a chest X-ray and routine monitoring. • When in doubt about the content of building materials, check your school's management plan to see if it indicates areas of asbestos. If you still have doubts, try to keep dust levels at a minimum. Whenever possible, thoroughly wet materials before handling them. |
