How Schools Comply (or Don’t) with the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA)

Written By: Robert Cox

A reader sent along this little tidbit with regard to the ongoing exposure incident.

From the U.S. EPA:

The AHERA regulations require public school districts and non-profit schools to:

  • Perform an original inspection to determine whether asbestos-containing materials are present and then re-inspect asbestos-containing material in each school every three years
  • Develop, maintain, and update an asbestos management plan and keep a copy at the school
  • Provide yearly notification to parent, teacher, and employee organizations on the availability of the school’s asbestos management plan and any asbestos-related actions taken or planned in the school
    Designate a contact person to ensure the responsibilities of the public school district or the non-profit school are properly implemented
  • Perform periodic surveillance of known or suspected asbestos-containing building material
  • Ensure that trained and licensed professionals perform inspections and take response actions
    Provide custodial staff with asbestos-awareness training

As a long-time parent in this district I cannot recall ever getting any “yearly notification” of the school’s asbestos management plan and any asbestos-related actions taken or planned in the school”.

Are there any reader/parents out there who DID receive such a notification? I would like to see a copy.