When the government recognized the danger of asbestos, it began issuing a range of laws to target its use and protect the public. One area that was under fire was the use of asbestos in schools. To protect children and school employees, the government enacted several laws.
According to the EPA, one of the first laws was the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act. AHERA specifically targets schools in that it requires school districts to conduct inspections for asbestos within their school buildings. This act also created regulations where schools had to create plans for the removal and management of any asbestos found in school buildings. This was not the only specific act or law aimed to help make schools safe from asbestos.
Asbestos School Hazard Abatement Reauthorization Act
The removal of asbestos is quite expensive because it requires care and extreme protection to avoid further exposure. The ASHARA recognized the struggle of schools to be able to afford the abatement process and provided additional funding to schools. In addition, it addressed training and requirements for abatement projects of all types, not just in schools.
Rules
Schools also have rules they must follow when dealing with asbestos. This includes how they remove it and how they respond when it is found in a district’s school building. Rules cover how to create management plans, how to transport and dispose of materials after removal and how to analyze asbestos in construction materials.
Schools also are subject to all other asbestos regulations. They must follow the laws in the same way any other business or person must. The bottom line is to protect everyone, not just those in direct contact with the asbestos, but also the community as a whole.
