Reading, Writing, Arithmetic….and Asbestos!
Between the 1940s and 1970s, asbestos-containing products were commonly used in the construction of new buildings, including schools and school buildings. School buildings built during this time period could contain asbestos-containing materials including, but not limited to, insulation, pipe wrapping, ceiling tiles, floor tiles, fire proofings, roof shingles, and drywall. In addition, these schools may have contained less common asbestos-containing items such as laboratory counter or table tops, theater fire curtains, and backing on chalkboards.
The potential existed for teachers, students, and staff to be exposed to these asbestos-containing materials if they became worn, damaged or disturbed. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) took notice of this potential danger in the early 1980s, when it issued its report stating that hundreds of thousands of teachers were exposed to airborne asbestos in their classrooms.
The legislature later enacted the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) in 1986, which required schools and local education agencies to inspect their schools and prepare management plans to prevent or reduce asbestos hazards, and also the Asbestos School Hazard Abatement Reauthorization Act, which governed school asbestos inspections.
AHERA requires several management steps to be taken by schools in the United States:
- an inspection and re-inspection every three years;
- develop, maintain, and update an asbestos management plan, prepared by properly accredited professionals;
- provide yearly notification to the parent, teacher, and any employee organizations regarding the availability of the plan and/or any asbestos abatement actions being taken in the school;
- survey known or suspected asbestos-containing materials in the buildings; and
- provide custodial staff with asbestos-awareness training.
While these enactments were a step in the right direction, teachers, students, and staff of schools may still have been exposed to asbestos during remodels, renovations, and regular maintenance taking place in the schools.
If you think you may have been exposed and are experiencing any symptoms of asbestos related cancer, please call our law firm and speak to one of our mesothelioma attorneys who specialize in handling only these types of cases and have expert knowledge, not only about your legal options but also medical resources.
