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Asbestos Contributes to Overall Failing Grades of New Jersey School District According to Architect Reports

By on Tuesday, May 21st, 2013 | No Comments

A damning report rocked a community in New Jersey this week after the results revealed that virtually every school in the school district is facing considerable – and oftentimes, dangerous – problems. The architectural firm of Fraytak Veisz Hopkins Duthie explored each school in the Hamilton, New Jersey area and found that nearly half of the schools were contaminated with the lethal toxin asbestos and other schools failed to meet federal accessibility standards. However, the litany of issues now facing the Hamilton school district is far more comprehensive than just asbestos and accessibility concerns. Out of the twenty four schools, the architectural firm granted three Hamilton schools grades of “A.” Unfortunately for school administrators and school board members, the failing conditions of the buildings did not come as a shock. In 2010, the school district was forced to cut $16 million from its overall budget in order to meet new regulations issued by the state. Reducing routine maintenance of school facilities was one of the tough budgetary decisions school district officials had to make. According to Jeff Hewitson , school board president, this “rob Peter to pay Paul” mentality left the school district in disarray. Among the faults found by the architectural firms include spacing issues, not enough bathroom facilities to meet the students and faculty needs, not enough emergency exits and electrical system problems. The ages of the school buildings range from over one hundred years old to facilities considered “newer,” clocking in at just under a half of a century. Even the schools that received passing grades – B’s and C’s – have a number of structural concerns. Hewitson pointed out that the grades given reflected how well and thoroughly the buildings have been maintained, and how maintenance was reflected in the school district’s budget. Possibly the most dangerous issues uncovered by the investigation was the discovery of asbestos and black mold. Though asbestos is a highly toxic carcinogen, it can be found in a variety of building materials including plumbing and electrical systems, floor and ceiling tiles and roofing. Exposure to asbestos can cause lung cancer and mesothelioma , a rare, yet deadly form of cancer that attacks the delicate lining of the lungs, heart or stomach. Now, the school board must decide what is more economically prudent: investing in the necessary repairs in existing schools or building entirely new structures.

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Harris County DA Mike Anderson diagnosed with cancer

By on Friday, May 17th, 2013 | No Comments

In an e-mail to his staff on Thursday, Harris County District Attorney Mike Anderson said he is undergoing treatment for cancer.

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Asbestos Contamination, Aging Buildings Force Illinois School District to Renovate High School

By on Thursday, May 2nd, 2013 | No Comments

Elementary and high school age students in a small central Illinois school district will be housed together after a several million dollar renovation updates the aging high school, including asbestos abatement . Rossville-Alvin school district officials approved contractual agreements for design and renovation work this week. Before the decision to combine the two schools in the Rossville-Alvin school district came down from the school district level, elementary students from kindergarden through eighth grade were housed in a separate but adjacent building. This decision was not reached lightly: after a recent comprehensive evaluation of the high school and elementary school buildings revealed aging heating and cooling systems, electrical and asbestos contamination, Rossville-Alvin school district officials found that renovating both buildings was simply not possible. Further, the high school was found to be in slightly better condition than the elementary school and offered a larger footprint that would easily accommodate the influx of additional students. The contracts approved by the Rossville-Alvin school board included renovation work to the high school’s HVAC system, extensive asbestos removal, roof repair and electrical updates. This phase of the renovation will cost the school district over $2 million dollars, a significant portion of the projected $3.5 million project budget. School board officials expect to use bonds and grants to finance the project. According to Crystal Johnson , Rossville-Alvin Superintendent, moving forward on this portion of the renovation is key: the extensiveness of the work requires a longer “lead time.” Despite the bulk of the work being approved by the school board, the Illinois State Board of Education officials must weigh in. Typically for a renovation project of this size, abating – or removing – the asbestos and other potential health hazards is first, not only for the health and safety of the students and faculty, but also for the construction workers. Also, abating the asbestos lays the groundwork for the installation of new electrical and HVAC systems. Asbestos is a known cancer-causing agent or carcinogen that, through exposure, causes lung cancer and mesothelioma. Though not as commonly known as lung cancer, mesothelioma cancer affects the delicate protective lining surrounding the lungs, heart or stomach. For such projects like the Rossville-Alvin renovation, ensuring that the asbestos is safely and thoroughly removed is paramount. School board officials hope that the bulk of the work is completed by the beginning of the next school year.

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Bowls Club raise cash for Cancer Support Group

By on Wednesday, March 6th, 2013 | No Comments

The Horncastle Indoor Bowls Club held their annual charity fund raising competition to raise money for the Horncastle and District Cancer Support Group.

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Surviving colon cancer the test that can save your life

By on Tuesday, February 26th, 2013 | No Comments

Personal stories from David Proctor and Karen Echeverria about the test that saved their life. Brought to you by the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare and Southeastern District Health Department.

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Vancouver Company Fined for More Asbestos Violations

By on Tuesday, January 8th, 2013 | No Comments

It seems that some companies just have a hard time following the rules. That seems to be the case with Richmond, Vancouver-based Mr. Bin Disposal, which was fined for improper handling and disposal of asbestos materials three times in 2011 and just pleaded guilty last month to three violations of their Vancouver regional district solid-waste disposal license. The company has been fined $70,000. An article in the Vancouver Sun reports that Mr. Bin Disposal was licensed by the regional district to accept solid waste and recyclable material. However, they are not licensed to accept asbestos . Nonetheless, the company continued to accept asbestos waste, showing little regard for environmental laws designed to protect air quality and avoid hazards such as asbestos exposure . The article reports that a Metro Vancouver enforcement officer spotted a pile of yellow double-bagged materials in a yard at Mr. Bin Disposal, an area of the property where waste was not supposed to be stored. Furthermore, the bagged materials – about 60 cubic meters in all – were marked as containing “waste asbestos”. In addition, many of the bags remained open and some of them contained holes, exposing the material inside. Officials also reported that workers at the disposal company appeared not to be wearing any sort of protective clothing, such as masks or respirators. This put them at risk of inhaling tiny asbestos fibers, which can invade the lungs and cause diseases such as asbestosis and mesothelioma . Hence, more investigation ensued and Mr. Bin was eventually hit with the fine, which was in addition to the $22,000 they had already paid in 2011 for similar infractions. Some believe the $70,000 fine is too low and is obviously not sending the owners of Mr. Bin Disposal the right message. One reader commented that the actions of the company were clearly not an oversight on their part but appeared to be deliberate. He believes that criminal charges should be brought against those who negligently expose their employees (and others) to hazards such as asbestos. Citing provincial statistics, the reader – a union official – wrote: “According to WorkSafeBC, of the 143 accepted fatality claims last year, 75 were the result of occupational disease with the majority of these being attributed to exposure to asbestos.”

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Brock woman, 72, rebounded from cancer

By on Thursday, December 20th, 2012 | No Comments

The following public schools will be closed Thursday due to the storm: Omaha Public Schools, Millard, Elkhorn, Ralston, Council Bluffs, Bellevue, Omaha Catholic schools, Westside, Papillion-La Vista, Lewis Central Community School District and Lincoln Public Schools.

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Asbestos Keeps Storm-Damaged School Closed

By on Monday, November 5th, 2012 | No Comments

Up and down the East Coast of the United States, Hurricane Sandy took her toll on all sorts of structures, including schools. Many school buildings have now reopened, but in Wallingford, Connecticut, one high school has been forced to keep its doors closed because of the presence of dangerous asbestos. According to an account in the Record-Journal, Sheehan High School students will be staying home until the school district can remove damaged asbestos-containing floor tiles on the building’s second floor. The tiles were damaged when water leaked into the school. Damaged asbestos can result in the release of dangerous fibers into the air where they can be inhaled. As such, no one is currently permitted in the building. “As a result, abatement is being performed by certified contractors and overseen by environmental consultants to ensure that all Environmental Protection Agency and state of Connecticut regulations are followed closely,” said Salvatore Menzo, school superintendent. Once asbestos removal is complete, Menzo told the media, both analytical and visual testing will be performed to make sure the concentration of fibers in the air is not at a dangerous level. “We want to make sure everything is safe inside,” Menzo said. “We found out after the fact that the tiles were compromised.” Menzo assured parents and the general public that no students would be inside the building during the actual abatement process. Sheehan High School was the only school in the Wallingford School District that suffered major storm damage. However, dozens of schools from the Carolinas through New England were damaged when winds in excess of 75 mph and torrential rains pummeled the coast. Any school that was built prior to about 1975 may contain asbestos and the asbestos may have been compromised due to storm damage. Administration, teachers, and staff from storm-damaged schools should be on the lookout for asbestos products that may have become dangerous. Any suspected problems with asbestos should be reported to school officials immediately in order to avoid exposure to the material. Asbestos exposure can result in development of diseases like asbestosis or malignant mesothelioma , a serious form of cancer.

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Asbestos Keeps Storm-Damaged School Closed

By on Monday, November 5th, 2012 | No Comments

Up and down the East Coast of the United States, Hurricane Sandy took her toll on all sorts of structures, including schools. Many school buildings have now reopened, but in Wallingford, Connecticut, one high school has been forced to keep its doors closed because of the presence of dangerous asbestos. According to an account in the Record-Journal, Sheehan High School students will be staying home until the school district can remove damaged asbestos-containing floor tiles on the building’s second floor. The tiles were damaged when water leaked into the school. Damaged asbestos can result in the release of dangerous fibers into the air where they can be inhaled. As such, no one is currently permitted in the building. “As a result, abatement is being performed by certified contractors and overseen by environmental consultants to ensure that all Environmental Protection Agency and state of Connecticut regulations are followed closely,” said Salvatore Menzo, school superintendent. Once asbestos removal is complete, Menzo told the media, both analytical and visual testing will be performed to make sure the concentration of fibers in the air is not at a dangerous level. “We want to make sure everything is safe inside,” Menzo said. “We found out after the fact that the tiles were compromised.” Menzo assured parents and the general public that no students would be inside the building during the actual abatement process. Sheehan High School was the only school in the Wallingford School District that suffered major storm damage. However, dozens of schools from the Carolinas through New England were damaged when winds in excess of 75 mph and torrential rains pummeled the coast. Any school that was built prior to about 1975 may contain asbestos and the asbestos may have been compromised due to storm damage. Administration, teachers, and staff from storm-damaged schools should be on the lookout for asbestos products that may have become dangerous. Any suspected problems with asbestos should be reported to school officials immediately in order to avoid exposure to the material. Asbestos exposure can result in development of diseases like asbestosis or malignant mesothelioma , a serious form of cancer.

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Asbestos Keeps Storm-Damaged School Closed

By on Monday, November 5th, 2012 | No Comments

Up and down the East Coast of the United States, Hurricane Sandy took her toll on all sorts of structures, including schools. Many school buildings have now reopened, but in Wallingford, Connecticut, one high school has been forced to keep its doors closed because of the presence of dangerous asbestos. According to an account in the Record-Journal, Sheehan High School students will be staying home until the school district can remove damaged asbestos-containing floor tiles on the building’s second floor. The tiles were damaged when water leaked into the school. Damaged asbestos can result in the release of dangerous fibers into the air where they can be inhaled. As such, no one is currently permitted in the building. “As a result, abatement is being performed by certified contractors and overseen by environmental consultants to ensure that all Environmental Protection Agency and state of Connecticut regulations are followed closely,” said Salvatore Menzo, school superintendent. Once asbestos removal is complete, Menzo told the media, both analytical and visual testing will be performed to make sure the concentration of fibers in the air is not at a dangerous level. “We want to make sure everything is safe inside,” Menzo said. “We found out after the fact that the tiles were compromised.” Menzo assured parents and the general public that no students would be inside the building during the actual abatement process. Sheehan High School was the only school in the Wallingford School District that suffered major storm damage. However, dozens of schools from the Carolinas through New England were damaged when winds in excess of 75 mph and torrential rains pummeled the coast. Any school that was built prior to about 1975 may contain asbestos and the asbestos may have been compromised due to storm damage. Administration, teachers, and staff from storm-damaged schools should be on the lookout for asbestos products that may have become dangerous. Any suspected problems with asbestos should be reported to school officials immediately in order to avoid exposure to the material. Asbestos exposure can result in development of diseases like asbestosis or malignant mesothelioma , a serious form of cancer.

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