Controversy Regarding Asbestos Removal at Nassau County, NY, Elementary School

Nassau County area school district fails to hire certified asbestos contractor to perform repair work at Carle Place, NY, school. Exposure to asbestos is known to cause serious illnesses such as mesothelioma cancer, asbestos-related lung cancer and asbestosis many years after exposure to the dangerous mineral.

In October 2009, the Carle Place, NY, school district addressed a potential health risk resulting from work at the district’s elementary school when work was done in an area beneath the school building that was insulated with asbestos.

When the district had conduits run in a space where asbestos insulation was present, they failed to follow federal and New York state laws that require that any work performed in an area of a school building where asbestos materials (ACM) are present must be performed by a properly licensed and certified asbestos contractor.

A spokesperson for the New York State Department of Labor stated that an investigation into the matter was currently underway. However, there is no indication as to what action would be taken.

Asbestos Regulations for Schools
Every public and private school in the United States is required to follow specific regulations regarding asbestos, including filing documents regarding the known locations of asbestos materials in school buildings.

The Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) requires that school districts conduct inspections for ACM and prepare management plans to prevent or reduce any possible exposure hazards.

Potential Risk to Teachers, Staff and Students
While the school district reported that air testing had been conducted at the school and no risk was found, this incident is an important lesson about how an accidental exposure can risk the health of all those attending or working in a school.

Since asbestos was widely used in the construction and insulation of many of the nation’s older school buildings, those who work in these buildings are at increased risk for exposure and to develop serious diseases caused by exposure to the dangerous carcinogen.

Federal statistics on asbestos disease show that after workers in the construction and energy industries, elementary school teachers have the highest rates of asbestos-related disease.

Studies into this troubling statistic have revealed that since many elementary school teachers spend their entire careers working for the same school district (many in the same building or even the same classroom), they face almost daily exposure to asbestos from many sources, including insulation on heating pipes in classrooms and hallways.

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