Asbestos in my daughter's middle school (1 Viewer)

[timschochet]

So last Thursday morning, when my daughter gets to school (7th grade) there's a bunch of parents handing out flyers. The gist was that the school board was being dishonest about removing some asbestos from several of their schools during the summer- according to the flyers they didn't do it safely, and as a result "OUR CHILDREN ARE AT RISK!!" The flyer demanded that the school board immediately close down all schools that had the asbestos removed. and that perhaps we shouldn't send our kids to school in the meantime.

My wife was freaking out but I downplayed it. I've had to deal with asbestos issues in the past at some of the properties I've managed, and there is usually lot of overstatement. On Friday, the school board sent out an auto-call saying there was no cause for alarm, but as a result of the concern they would be performing tests on all the schools that weekend and would announce the results early this week.

Nothing Monday or Tuesday. But today, out of the blue, the elementary school that is 1/2 mile away from my daughter's middle school was closed down "until further notice", supposedly until the end of the week. Now a WHOLE bunch of parents are freaking out. My wife received several texts this morning: "Are you taking your kid to school? I'm not", etc. She took my daughter to school, and nobody seems to know anything. I didn't think there was much to this, but I wasn't expecting the school board to close down that other school. And they still haven't released the results of testing on the middle school. Should I be concerned?

 

[DocHolliday]

I worked for an asbestos removal company years ago. It is easy to determine air quality and any risk to building inhabitants. It is also easy to control (encapsulate) or remove.

 

[timschochet]

I worked for an asbestos removal company years ago. It is easy to determine air quality and any risk to building inhabitants. It is also easy to control (encapsulate) or remove.

Yeah, that's been my experience (though I was never directly involved as you are.) None of this meant anything to me until they closed down that elementary school. That doesn't make sense to me.

 

[jon_mx]

Sell your house and move to a safe district.

 

[DocHolliday]

I worked for an asbestos removal company years ago. It is easy to determine air quality and any risk to building inhabitants. It is also easy to control (encapsulate) or remove.

Yeah, that's been my experience (though I was never directly involved as you are.) None of this meant anything to me until they closed down that elementary school. That doesn't make sense to me.

The Freedom Of Information Act should enable you to obtain any records that you need. I have gone that route at the state level. Seems like it should be just as easy for a county or city.

You need to find out why the school was closed before people guess/start rumors and create a mess.

 

[parasaurolophus]

I think rioting and looting are the necessary steps to bring awareness.

 

[ChiefD]

I would definitely take your outrage to social media.

 

[fantasycurse42]

Have you considered hiring illegals to help out here?

 

[Tom Servo]

Sell your house and move to a safe district.

White flight?

 

[T Bell]

I worked for an asbestos removal company years ago. It is easy to determine air quality and any risk to building inhabitants. It is also easy to control (encapsulate) or remove.

Yeah, that's been my experience (though I was never directly involved as you are.) None of this meant anything to me until they closed down that elementary school. That doesn't make sense to me.

You don't have enough information.

The school district is now no longer dealing with just a building/health issue, they're also dealing with PR/local politics now that parents, a notoriously overreacting bunch (especially this generation) are involved. The school shutdown (which may have nothing to do with asbestos as far as you know) may have been over-precaution after a merely borderline or even near-borderline air quality test, for example.

I'd definitely demand more information in your position though, including what exactly was done to seal off the work area when the removal was performed. A major project should even have site photos, which I'd hope would show plastic sealing the contaminated area until the removal was done.

 

[Officer Pete Malloy]

Back when I was in grade school the straws in the cafeteria were made of asbestos. The wussification of America continues.

 

[El Floppo]

I worked for an asbestos removal company years ago. It is easy to determine air quality and any risk to building inhabitants. It is also easy to control (encapsulate) or remove.

Yeah, that's been my experience (though I was never directly involved as you are.) None of this meant anything to me until they closed down that elementary school. That doesn't make sense to me.

You don't have enough information.

The school district is now no longer dealing with just a building/health issue, they're also dealing with PR/local politics now that parents, a notoriously overreacting bunch (especially this generation) are involved. The school shutdown (which may have nothing to do with asbestos as far as you know) may have been over-precaution after a merely borderline or even near-borderline air quality test, for example.

I'd definitely demand more information in your position though, including what exactly was done to seal off the work area when the removal was performed. A major project should even have site photos, which I'd hope would show plastic sealing the contaminated area until the removal was done.

I just met a woman doing a documentary on asbestos and other environmental "issues" at schools in Malibu and nearby... wondering if her work has anything to do with the ruckus?

as far as I know from my architecture work- if the asbestos is inert, and not being disturbed- the harm is negligible. The main problem is during demo/construction when it becomes disturbed or if the asbestos is slowly leeching either into water or air-flow systems. The latter part is where things are obviously trickier. If they were doing work at that closed down school and found asbestos- they'd need to close off the area where the work is being performed and hire specialty crews to perform the abatement and the air monitoring. Closing the whole school seems more than that.

 

[T Bell]

Back when I was in grade school the straws in the cafeteria were made of asbestos. The wussification of America continues.

That was back when you could tear one end of the straw wrapper off and shoot it at someone. Ah, those were the days!

 

[Quez]

Dress your kid for school in a hazmat suit.

 

[T Bell]

I worked for an asbestos removal company years ago. It is easy to determine air quality and any risk to building inhabitants. It is also easy to control (encapsulate) or remove.

Yeah, that's been my experience (though I was never directly involved as you are.) None of this meant anything to me until they closed down that elementary school. That doesn't make sense to me.

You don't have enough information.

The school district is now no longer dealing with just a building/health issue, they're also dealing with PR/local politics now that parents, a notoriously overreacting bunch (especially this generation) are involved. The school shutdown (which may have nothing to do with asbestos as far as you know) may have been over-precaution after a merely borderline or even near-borderline air quality test, for example.

I'd definitely demand more information in your position though, including what exactly was done to seal off the work area when the removal was performed. A major project should even have site photos, which I'd hope would show plastic sealing the contaminated area until the removal was done.

I just met a woman doing a documentary on asbestos and other environmental "issues" at schools in Malibu and nearby... wondering if her work has anything to do with the ruckus?

as far as I know from my architecture work- if the asbestos is inert, and not being disturbed- the harm is negligible. The main problem is during demo/construction when it becomes disturbed or if the asbestos is slowly leeching either into water or air-flow systems. The latter part is where things are obviously trickier. If they were doing work at that closed down school and found asbestos- they'd need to close off the area where the work is being performed and hire specialty crews to perform the abatement and the air monitoring. Closing the whole school seems more than that.

That's my understanding too. In fact my college had asbestos acoustic ceilings in the dorms and simply repainted them every year and instructed students not to mess with them (yeah, right), but that's generally enough not to make it airborne which is the major worry.

 

[T Bell]

Dress your kid for school in a hazmat suit.

This would be a hilarious protest.

 

[TLEF316]

[Costanza]You know who invested asbestos don't ya?.....THE JEWS!!!![/costanza]

 

[eoMMan]

I went to school with an Absetos. Always thought it was a horrible name.

 

[nirad3]

I worked for an asbestos removal company years ago. It is easy to determine air quality and any risk to building inhabitants. It is also easy to control (encapsulate) or remove.

Yeah, that's been my experience (though I was never directly involved as you are.) None of this meant anything to me until they closed down that elementary school. That doesn't make sense to me.

You don't have enough information.

The school district is now no longer dealing with just a building/health issue, they're also dealing with PR/local politics now that parents, a notoriously overreacting bunch (especially this generation) are involved. The school shutdown (which may have nothing to do with asbestos as far as you know) may have been over-precaution after a merely borderline or even near-borderline air quality test, for example.

I'd definitely demand more information in your position though, including what exactly was done to seal off the work area when the removal was performed. A major project should even have site photos, which I'd hope would show plastic sealing the contaminated area until the removal was done.

I just met a woman doing a documentary on asbestos and other environmental "issues" at schools in Malibu and nearby... wondering if her work has anything to do with the ruckus?

as far as I know from my architecture work- if the asbestos is inert, and not being disturbed- the harm is negligible. The main problem is during demo/construction when it becomes disturbed or if the asbestos is slowly leeching either into water or air-flow systems. The latter part is where things are obviously trickier. If they were doing work at that closed down school and found asbestos- they'd need to close off the area where the work is being performed and hire specialty crews to perform the abatement and the air monitoring. Closing the whole school seems more than that.

 

[timschochet]

Thanks for the info!

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Asbestos? More like...

(•_•)

( •_•)>⌐■-■

(⌐■_■)

Asworstos.

YEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[DocHolliday]

I worked for an asbestos removal company years ago. It is easy to determine air quality and any risk to building inhabitants. It is also easy to control (encapsulate) or remove.

Yeah, that's been my experience (though I was never directly involved as you are.) None of this meant anything to me until they closed down that elementary school. That doesn't make sense to me.

You don't have enough information.

The school district is now no longer dealing with just a building/health issue, they're also dealing with PR/local politics now that parents, a notoriously overreacting bunch (especially this generation) are involved. The school shutdown (which may have nothing to do with asbestos as far as you know) may have been over-precaution after a merely borderline or even near-borderline air quality test, for example.

I'd definitely demand more information in your position though, including what exactly was done to seal off the work area when the removal was performed. A major project should even have site photos, which I'd hope would show plastic sealing the contaminated area until the removal was done.

I just met a woman doing a documentary on asbestos and other environmental "issues" at schools in Malibu and nearby... wondering if her work has anything to do with the ruckus?

as far as I know from my architecture work- if the asbestos is inert, and not being disturbed- the harm is negligible. The main problem is during demo/construction when it becomes disturbed or if the asbestos is slowly leeching either into water or air-flow systems. The latter part is where things are obviously trickier. If they were doing work at that closed down school and found asbestos- they'd need to close off the area where the work is being performed and hire specialty crews to perform the abatement and the air monitoring. Closing the whole school seems more than that.

You are correct. Asbestos does not pose a danger until it becomes airborne. Someone should determine what the real issue is before the town starts rioting. Then again, we need more entertainment on TV.

 

[Fat Nick]

Back when I was in grade school the straws in the cafeteria were made of asbestos. The wussification of America continues.

That was back when you could tear one end of the straw wrapper off and shoot it at someone. Ah, those were the days!

Straws - gateway weapons. Next thing you know they'll be bringing Glocks to class.

 

[Fat Nick]

I'm sure my middle school was full of asbestos tiles, and the radiators were likely covered in lead-based paint. Isn't it only really dangerous if you're breaking it up or making a lot of dust out of it?

 

[Tom Servo]

Back when I was in grade school the straws in the cafeteria were made of asbestos. The wussification of America continues.

My 5th grade class went on a field trip to Love Canal without protective gear. You're the pansy.

 

[DA RAIDERS]

The way these parents are freaking out about this on the news make me want to smack them upside the head. So glad this crap is not happening in my kids district. Not because of the asbestos, but because of the parents.

 

[El Floppo]

The way these parents are freaking out about this on the news make me want to smack them upside the head. So glad this crap is not happening in my kids district. Not because of the asbestos, but because of the parents.

To be fair... at least to the parents in the school that's being documented by the woman I met... there's apparently some kind of sickness cluster there among the kids. If a bunch of kids are getting sick (permanent sick, not cold/flu) at my kid's school- I would want to know wth was going on too.

Timmy's school?

 

[DA RAIDERS]

The way these parents are freaking out about this on the news make me want to smack them upside the head. So glad this crap is not happening in my kids district. Not because of the asbestos, but because of the parents.

To be fair... at least to the parents in the school that's being documented by the woman I met... there's apparently some kind of sickness cluster there among the kids. If a bunch of kids are getting sick (permanent sick, not cold/flu) at my kid's school- I would want to know wth was going on too.

Timmy's school?

i get that and agree. one mother was crying about her kid having bronchitis. everyone else was yelling shrilly at the poor PR nobody, that was simply announcing that the work that was scheduled to be done in the summer was delayed and that they were going to be testing the schools and closing any that posed any risk to the public. the fat lady with the lip piercing moaning about having to move now was one of my favorites.

 

[El Floppo]

The way these parents are freaking out about this on the news make me want to smack them upside the head. So glad this crap is not happening in my kids district. Not because of the asbestos, but because of the parents.

To be fair... at least to the parents in the school that's being documented by the woman I met... there's apparently some kind of sickness cluster there among the kids. If a bunch of kids are getting sick (permanent sick, not cold/flu) at my kid's school- I would want to know wth was going on too.

Timmy's school?

i get that and agree. one mother was crying about her kid having bronchitis. everyone else was yelling shrilly at the poor PR nobody, that was simply announcing that the work that was scheduled to be done in the summer was delayed and that they were going to be testing the schools and closing any that posed any risk to the public. the fat lady with the lip piercing moaning about having to move now was one of my favorites.

that dude with the 3' radius brimmed felt pimp hat calling Obama a racist for shooting his toxic seed into the school was the best.

 

[One]

Dress your kid for school in a hazmat suit.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

You try to keep the schools from burning down and look at the thanks you get.

 

[Ilov80s]

I'm not surprised. A lot of districts have gotten very little money to improve the old buildings. I've been to many schools where there are leaks in the ceiling, rats, caved in walls, etc.

 

[Sinn Fein]

Just wait until one of the kids gets ebola.

 

[PatsWillWin]

Sell your house and move to a safe district.

Also just to be safe, shutdown your FBG account and never come here again.

 

[chauncey]

Start hiding lungs.

 

[Zegras11]

Tim, I think you should house all these kids in one of your vacant buildings and teach them all about Hitler.

 

[pantagrapher]

I worked for an asbestos removal company years ago. It is easy to determine air quality and any risk to building inhabitants. It is also easy to control (encapsulate) or remove.

Doesn't this vary drastically based on the source of the asbestos? E.g. removing asbestos tile is much easier than removing asbestos insulation?

 

[El Floppo]

I worked for an asbestos removal company years ago. It is easy to determine air quality and any risk to building inhabitants. It is also easy to control (encapsulate) or remove.

Doesn't this vary drastically based on the source of the asbestos? E.g. removing asbestos tile is much easier than removing asbestos insulation?

Doc will have the answer- but IME, the removal process is always the same regardless of the type of asbestos; tent the affected area, monitor, remove. Different applications take different amount time, which I guess is easier if shorter- but the removal method is always the same.

 

[beer 30]

I worked for an asbestos removal company years ago. It is easy to determine air quality and any risk to building inhabitants. It is also easy to control (encapsulate) or remove.

Yeah, that's been my experience (though I was never directly involved as you are.) None of this meant anything to me until they closed down that elementary school. That doesn't make sense to me.

I worked for an asbestos removal company years ago. It is easy to determine air quality and any risk to building inhabitants. It is also easy to control (encapsulate) or remove.

Doesn't this vary drastically based on the source of the asbestos? E.g. removing asbestos tile is much easier than removing asbestos insulation?

Used to work in the cleanup industry as well and Doc is right on, not a big deal anymore but i can see being safe rather than sorry. Probably take a week or so for them to get an asbestos removal company mobilized and in to test the facility and then determine a cleanup plan.

Asbestos tile is fine as long as it's intact. Asbestos becomes a problem when the tile is either broken up or to pantagraphers point, loose insulation. When the fibers become airborne they have the potential to stay airborne for a very long time (like forever potentially). So closing the place down until the extent of contamination is determined is a solid PR move given how it's been handled so far. You don't want someone coming back later asking why the administration let kids go to school in a contaminated building.

 

[johnnycakes]

Back in the mid-1990's I lost a friend to asbestosis. He hadn't worked with asbestos since the mid-1970's. And even then, I gathered he wasn't working with it like a shipyard worker would be... he was just doing renovations of commercial properties at the time and had apparently had some exposure to asbestos in that line of work.

the moral of the story being just because your kid doesn't get sick next week, or even this year, doesn't necessarily mean there's no risk.

 

[AAABatteries]

Back when I was in grade school the straws in the cafeteria were made of asbestos. The wussification of America continues.

My 5th grade class went on a field trip to Love Canal without protective gear. You're the pansy.

I told my wife I'm making a trip to Love Canal tonight without protective gear. You old geezers inspired me.

 

[Grace Under Pressure]

I worked for an asbestos removal company years ago. It is easy to determine air quality and any risk to building inhabitants. It is also easy to control (encapsulate) or remove.

Yeah, that's been my experience (though I was never directly involved as you are.) None of this meant anything to me until they closed down that elementary school. That doesn't make sense to me.

The Freedom Of Information Act should enable you to obtain any records that you need. I have gone that route at the state level. Seems like it should be just as easy for a county or city.

You need to find out why the school was closed before people guess/start rumors and create a mess.

Did you verify this is why they closed the school? It's not like that would be some secret, they can't close a public school and not explain exactly why.

 

[Officer Pete Malloy]

Back when I was in grade school the straws in the cafeteria were made of asbestos. The wussification of America continues.

My 5th grade class went on a field trip to Love Canal without protective gear. You're the pansy.

At my Junior High every Tuesday was "All the Lead Paint You Can Drink" day.

 

[jon_mx]

Back in the mid-1990's I lost a friend to asbestosis. He hadn't worked with asbestos since the mid-1970's. And even then, I gathered he wasn't working with it like a shipyard worker would be... he was just doing renovations of commercial properties at the time and had apparently had some exposure to asbestos in that line of work.

the moral of the story being just because your kid doesn't get sick next week, or even this year, doesn't necessarily mean there's no risk.

I dunno. Doing renovations for commerical properties sounds like an even worse type of exposure. Tearing down asbestos covered walls and stirring it all up during a time when people were just being made aware of the problem and really not taking that many precautions. I would bet he wore no protective masks or anything.

 

[johnnycakes]

Back in the mid-1990's I lost a friend to asbestosis. He hadn't worked with asbestos since the mid-1970's. And even then, I gathered he wasn't working with it like a shipyard worker would be... he was just doing renovations of commercial properties at the time and had apparently had some exposure to asbestos in that line of work.

the moral of the story being just because your kid doesn't get sick next week, or even this year, doesn't necessarily mean there's no risk.

I dunno. Doing renovations for commerical properties sounds like an even worse type of exposure. Tearing down asbestos covered walls and stirring it all up during a time when people were just being made aware of the problem and really not taking that many precautions. I would bet he wore no protective masks or anything.

I'm sure he wasn't wearing any mask or anything. I wonder if the kids are at the school referenced by the OP.

 

[timschochet]

Well, they never explained why they closed down the elementary school. It was closed down for ONE day; today it's open. The school district said my daughter's middle school is "perfectly safe". So far as we know, everyone is back in school.

 

[El Floppo]

Well, they never explained why they closed down the elementary school. It was closed down for ONE day; today it's open. The school district said my daughter's middle school is "perfectly safe". So far as we know, everyone is back in school.

That's good news.

Or at least- it's not obviously bad news.

 

[jon_mx]

Back in the mid-1990's I lost a friend to asbestosis. He hadn't worked with asbestos since the mid-1970's. And even then, I gathered he wasn't working with it like a shipyard worker would be... he was just doing renovations of commercial properties at the time and had apparently had some exposure to asbestos in that line of work.

the moral of the story being just because your kid doesn't get sick next week, or even this year, doesn't necessarily mean there's no risk.

I dunno. Doing renovations for commerical properties sounds like an even worse type of exposure. Tearing down asbestos covered walls and stirring it all up during a time when people were just being made aware of the problem and really not taking that many precautions. I would bet he wore no protective masks or anything.

I'm sure he wasn't wearing any mask or anything. I wonder if the kids are at the school referenced by the OP.

Unless they are tearing up walls so that asbestos particles become airborne, there is no need for masks.

 

[Grace Under Pressure]

Closed one day after posting Closed Until Further Notice? Not the best communication there. Assuming a couiple hundred parents had to make alternate plans, there was no reason given whatsoever for the closure? That would not fly around these parts.

 

[EYLive]

Protest the coverup and loot the local appliance store.