1. Ed Antz, Risk Manager Maine School Management Association
Asbestos in Schools: Manage it Safely
Ed Antz, Risk Manager
Maine School Management Association

2. What Is Asbestos? Natural mineral; still mined in some countries
Thin, invisible, and strong (fibers!)
Resistant to heat and corrosion
Indestructible
Easy to mix with other products
Slide Show Notes
Asbestos is the name of a group of naturally occurring silica-based minerals that are still mined in Australia, Canada, South Africa, and parts of the former Soviet Union.
Asbestos minerals are thin, invisible, extremely strong crystals that form into what are usually referred to as “fibers.” It exists in various crystalline forms—Amosite, Chrysotile, Crocidolite, and Tremolite to name a few.
Asbestos fibers are amazingly resistant to heat and corrosion and have been used for centuries in many different products. The Greeks used asbestos in lamp wicks, and the Egyptians used it to make burial cloths. We have used it extensively as a heat insulator.

3. Uses of Asbestos In many building materials before 1981
Fire protection and insulation
Cement products like sheeting, tiles, tanks
Some auto parts
Electrical wiring insulation
Fireproof blankets
Gaskets and filters
Image credit: InspectAPedia.com
Slide Show Notes
Asbestos was used in many building materials that were installed before It is considered by many to be the best general insulator on earth.
Spray coatings on steel work, concrete walls and ceilings, and asbestos-insulating boards were used for fire protection and insulation. It can also be found in insulation on pipework, ductwork, and boilers.
Asbestos is part of some cement products, such as sheeting on walls and roofs, tiles, cold water tanks, gutters, pipes, and in decorative plaster finishes.
Asbestos is still used in some automotive clutch parts and brake pads, especially after-market pads.
Because of its fireproof characteristics, asbestos is widely found in older electrical wiring insulation.
Fireproof blankets and other textiles are still manufactured from asbestos.
Some gaskets and filters are made with asbestos for its resistance to heat and corrosive chemicals.
Used in more than 3000 commercial products
Still commonly used today in China, Russia, India

4. Common Uses in Schools
Floor tiles: most 9” by 9” tiles contain asbestos, some 12’ by 12”
Boiler and pipe insulation
Cement products like fume hoods and boiler room walls (transite)
Some ceiling tiles
Some surfacing or sprayed-on materials
Image credit: InspectAPedia.com
Slide Show Notes
Asbestos was used in many building materials that were installed before It is considered by many to be the best general insulator on earth.
Spray coatings on steel work, concrete walls and ceilings, and asbestos-insulating boards were used for fire protection and insulation. It can also be found in insulation on pipework, ductwork, and boilers.
Asbestos is part of some cement products, such as sheeting on walls and roofs, tiles, cold water tanks, gutters, pipes, and in decorative plaster finishes.
Asbestos is still used in some automotive clutch parts and brake pads, especially after-market pads.
Because of its fireproof characteristics, asbestos is widely found in older electrical wiring insulation.
Fireproof blankets and other textiles are still manufactured from asbestos.
Some gaskets and filters are made with asbestos for its resistance to heat and corrosive chemicals.

5. Health Risks No real health risk when ACM is intact and not disturbed
Inhalation hazard from loose or disturbed asbestos called “friable”
(loose or crumbly)
Airborne fibers too small to see; float in air for very long time
Slide Show Notes
Many people have been led to believe that all forms of ACM are a health hazard. This is not true. Asbestos is not an immediate hazard if it is maintained in a nonfriable condition and undisturbed. “Nonfriable” means that the asbestos is bound up in a tight matrix in the material with which it is constructed. We’ll talk more about nonfriable asbestos later. ACM only becomes a hazard when it is disturbed or damaged, causing asbestos fibers to separate from the matrix material and become airborne.
The greatest potential for a health hazard occurs when ACM becomes friable. “Friable” means that the material can be crumbled, pulverized, or reduced to powder by hand pressure when dry. Friable ACM easily becomes airborne and inhaled. We’ll talk more about friable asbestos later. Depending on the material, asbestos materials are most often damaged by sawing, cutting, impact, or sanding operations. With a quality maintenance program, most asbestos materials are better left in place than completely removed.
The airborne asbestos fibers that can cause health damage are often too small to see with the naked eye.

6. Health Risks: 5,000 die annually in US (32,000 from car accidents)
Asbestosis, a scarring of the lungs, leads to cancer
Mesothelioma, cancer of the lining of the chest
Cancer of the lungs (most common disease by far); most from occupational exposures
No cure for asbestos-related illnesses
90% of workers exposed to high amounts of ACM for long periods (20-40 years) develop asbestos-related disease!
Smoking greatly increases the chance of cancer
No established “safe” level of exposure
Future disease is certain in China, Russia, India
Slide Show Notes
Asbestosis results in a loss of lung function that progresses to disability and death. Asbestos fibers will lodge deep inside the lungs and cut the tissue, which creates fibrosis, or scarring of the lungs. The fibrous or scarred tissue cannot transfer oxygen from the lungs into the blood, which reduces the capacity of the lungs. Asbestosis may not occur until 20 years or more after initial exposure to asbestos.
Mesothelioma affects the membranes lining the lungs and abdomen. Symptoms include shortness of breath and pain in the chest cavity and abdomen. Virtually all cases of mesothelioma are linked to asbestos exposure. Approximately 2 percent of all miners and textile workers who work with asbestos contract mesothelioma. Mesothelioma takes 30–40 years after exposure to form.
A number of different cancers have been attributed to exposure to asbestos fibers. These include cancers of the lungs, esophagus, stomach, colon, and rectum.
There is no cure for asbestos-related illnesses. Continued exposure causes the asbestos fibers to build up over time, damaging more and more tissue.

7. Main Route of Entry Airborne fibers are inhaled
Fibers become trapped in the lungs
Causes scarring of lung tissues, then often lung cancer
Slide Show Notes
The most common way for asbestos fibers to enter the body is through inhalation.
Many of the fibers will become trapped in the mucous membranes of the nose and throat where they can be removed by the body, but some may pass deep into the lungs. Because of the rod-like crystalline structure of asbestos, the human body’s removal process is not very effective for asbestos
Once they are trapped in the lungs, they stay there. Over time, they can cause the health problems and diseases we’ve already discussed, including fibrosis or scarring of the lung tissue.

8. Asbestos in Schools
Asbestos abatement and asbestos management are both regulated in schools in Maine (two laws)
Asbestos abatement (removal/repair) is regulated by Maine DEP and must:
Use only licensed contractors to do the work
- Use specific work practices
- Notify the DEP 10 days before the removal/repair takes place

9. Asbestos Management in Maine Schools
US EPA (federal) passed asbestos laws in the 1980’s called AHERA and EPA “contracts” out enforcement of AHERA to the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)
AHERA requires that school systems identify and safely manage asbestos in their buildings

10. Asbestos Management in Maine Schools
Schools must have a Asbestos Management Plan (AMP) in the office that details MOST of the asbestos products and locations in the school
Why only “most” locations in AMP?
AMP only looks at accessible materials
AMP could assume that materials are
asbestos, so the book might NOT list every room/place (floor tile mostly)

11. Asbestos Management Requirements
Schools must notify parents/staff each year that an AMP is available in the office; and of any planned asbestos projects
Every three years, schools must hire a consultant to look assess the asbestos
Removals/repairs done
by only licensed companies
(see below also)

12. Asbestos in Maine Schools (more)
Schools must have a designated person that you should call when in doubt about asbestos.
Be familiar with the AMP diagrams!!!
Custodial closets and boiler rooms need asbestos stickers if asbestos is there

13. Asbestos in Maine Schools (more)
Schools must train custodians within 30 days of hire (AMP and show locations in their building); once only for EPA training
Schools must record “asbestos surveillances” every six months; can be done in-house
Custodians can pick up and replace two (2) ceiling tiles, but NOT remove them for good!
(REMOVAL of EVEN ONE TILE is REGULATED)

14. Asbestos in Schools (more)
Schools must inform outside contractors (electricians, plumbers, HVAC) of the availability of the AMP, and must alert them of any work areas that have asbestos.
Contractors must sign a form stating that they have been so informed.
Several schools in the US have been cited for this after contractors “ripped” out asbestos that they claim the school never
told them about! One of your higher
risks in a school.

15. Asbestos in Maine Schools (general)
Image Credit: Inspectapedia.com
Asbestos in Maine Schools (general)
Schools continue to remove asbestos as buildings are renovated. A lot of the “nasty” asbestos has been removed.
Most common item now is asbestos floor tile (VAT): 9 inch by 9 inch; funky colors!
Good idea is to maintain asbestos in good condition and remove it during large renovations or demolition (more cost effective)

16. Asbestos in Maine Schools (floortile)
Schools CAN remove VAT but only under certain circumstances.
The key is “whole and intact” removal of the tiles.
Two allowable methods: infrared machines or heat gun; but the tiles must come up whole!

17. Asbestos in Maine Schools (floor tile)
VAT removals are primarily for smaller areas where several tiles have become loose and are starting to lift, but one school district removed whole hallways during one several summers by heat gun!! It can be done.
Store lightly damp tiles in two 6-mil poly asbestos bags in a labeled (sign) drum and dispose of when one drum is full.
KEEP records of “whole tile removals”.

18. Maintenance is Key
Schools should do their best to maintain asbestos in good condition and must implement corrective action(s) outlined in the 3-year professional inspection.
Schools need an operations and maintenance (O&M) plan whenever friable asbestos is present. Plan could be simple and say “we don’t do any asbestos-related activities”.
KEEP records of any asbestos projects done by staff (VAT, O&M) and licensed contractors (response actions, abatements)!

19. Summary
Asbestos books must be available in the office of each school building and availably to the public.
Don’t disturb materials that may contain asbestos, check the book!
Contact the DP with any questions/problems.
Periodic six-month and 3-year re-inspections must be done.
Asbestos may cause disease over time if
exposure is high.
Slide Show Notes
Asbestos is the name of a group of naturally occurring silica-based minerals that are still mined in Australia, Canada, South Africa, and parts of the former Soviet Union.
Asbestos minerals are thin, invisible, extremely strong crystals that form into what are usually referred to as “fibers.” It exists in various crystalline forms—Amosite, Chrysotile, Crocidolite, and Tremolite to name a few.
Asbestos fibers are amazingly resistant to heat and corrosion and have been used for centuries in many different products. The Greeks used asbestos in lamp wicks, and the Egyptians used it to make burial cloths. We have used it extensively as a heat insulator.

20. Asbestos in Schools: Manage it Safely
Contact the Maine DEP at for more information, or Ed Antz, Risk Manager, MSMA