EPA Asbestos Management: School Systems Requirements

Read about the EPA Region 7’s requirements for school systems regarding Asbestos Management issues for the Kansas, Missour, Nebraska and Tribal Regions.

The following is a general outline of the basic requirements that each school system must implement in order to comply with AHERA.

1. Arrange for the school to be inspected by a licensed asbestos inspector.

2. Identify the location, type and condition of all ACM present in the school.

3. Establish an asbestos management plan or strategy.

4. Warning labels should be posted in all routine maintenance areas to advise maintenance personnel that ACM is present in the school.

5. Prepare a blueprint or schematic indicating the type and location of all ACM present in the school for reference by maintenance and utility workers, construction workers, and emergency responders.

6. Train and designate someone to supervise the implementation of the asbestos management plan.

7. Train auxiliary staff (usually custodial) to assist with the required self inspection and monitoring portion of the management plan.

8. Notify in writing and retain a copy of the notification of all utility workers and other personnel working in areas where ACM is present.

9. The school department must self inspect the ACM at each school at least once every six months. Any damaged asbestos noted at this time should be remediated or removed upon discovery. The school department is also required to maintain a written record of these activities for further reference.

10. The school department is required to have a licensed asbestos inspector survey each school where ACM is present every three years as a means to review and monitor the self inspection program implemented by the school system.

11. The school department must ensure that all custodial, maintenance, and utility workers who may work in an area where ACM are present have received at least a basic level of asbestos awareness training prior to working in areas that may contain ACM.

12. The school system is required to provide notification to building occupants and users at least once per year that ACM is present in the building. This notification should also provide a brief description of the asbestos maintenance program or where this information is available for review.

13. The school system is also required to retain accurate records which describe all asbestos monitoring, maintenance and abatement activities. This includes all activities involving cleaning, monitoring, repair or abatement.

Courtesy of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency