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A new report from the BBC looks at asbestos in schools. It is a UK news report, but it is still an interesting look at asbestos removal and what is being done to make sure it is not a risk to school staff and students.
The video is embedded here.
Asbestos has been linked to numerous health problems, including mesothelioma. Proper removal is necessary to prevent exposure, as even slight exposure to asbestos can cause health problems.
The American Public Health Association has recently asked Congress to pass legislation that would effectively ban the sale, manufacture, import and export of asbestos in the U.S.
Asbestos has been linked to numerous health problems including mesothelioma, a rare and often deadly form of cancer. Despite these links, it has never been banned.
According to this article, the APHA has joined forces with international organizations including the World Federation of Public Health Associations in an attempt to ban global practices in which asbestos is used, such as asbestos mining and manufacturing.
It is not yet known what action, if any, Congress will take on this request.
Asbestos consultants working with a school district in Massena, New York, say they are making progress with asbestos removal.
The consultant has been working with the district for two years to make a plan to remove the asbestos safely, according to this article. He says there were originally 212 asbestos-containing areas when the process first began, and now there are only 75 left to be addressed.
Asbestos has been linked to numerous health problems, including mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer that is often deadly. Asbestos removal must be done by licensed and trained experts, since improper removal can release fibers into the air and increase the risk of exposure.
The article also states that asbestos is a concern for many schools across the United States, however many lack the funding to create a comprehensive removal plan.
The University of Wisconsin-Stout campus is the focus of a state agency after a report cited 51 occupational safety and health violations, including asbestos-related issues.
The Wisconsin state Department of Commerce is looking into the matter. School employees brought the issue to their attention after concerns about asbestos exposure. The school had been under construction, which led to the asbestos concerns. Asbestos has been used in many buildings and can be harmful during construction if proper care is not taken. Even brief exposure to asbestos has been linked to health problems, including mesothelioma which is a rare and often deadly form of cancer.
The report also states that nobody has been hurt in any way because of the incidents at the campus. The full story can be found here
An boiler malfunction explosion damaged a private school in Syracuse, New York, but the aftermath of the incident might be even worse.
White dust and natural gas spread throughout the school as a result of the explosion, and officials tested the air and revealed that the dust contained asbestos. Since asbestos has been linked to a number of health problems including mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer, the school has closed for the time being as a precaution.
As reported here, the school recently underwent renovations, but nothing was done at the time about the asbestos. Before it was known to be linked to health problems, asbestos was commonly used in many buildings.
A man from Pennsylvania is suing companies that he worked for while in Texas because he was allegedly exposed to asbestos and asbestos fibers on the job.
In the suit, the man said that the exposure has led to respiratory problems, including mesothelioma, which is a rare form of cancer that has been linked to asbestos. Such health problems are common after one has been exposed to asbestos. The man said that he became sick because he inhaled the asbestos while working for the companies.
In the lawsuit, the man is seeking damages for "extreme physical and mental pain, medical expenses, mental anguish, loss of consortium, loss of household services, pre and post judgment interest."
The Black Butte Ranch Corporation in Oregon was found working on an asbestos abatement project without being properly licensed.
Because asbestos is risky to handle and has been linked to health problems, including mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer, people who work on abatement projects must be licensed.
The company removed a section of a sewer pipe that contained asbestos. During the project, the employees cut the pipe down into smaller sections, which may have caused the asbestos particles to become airborn, resulting in a bigger risk.
The company was fined $750.