Asbestos  in Schools

The Asbestos-Containing Materials in-Schools regulation, Sections 19a-333-1 through 13 governs the management of asbestos in all elementary and secondary, public and not for profit private schools. This Department of Public Health (DPH) regulation contains requirements that are essentially the same as those mandated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) regulation (40 CFR, Part 763).

What are the responsibilities of the Local Education Agency (LEA) ?

  • Inspect each school building to identify all asbestos-containing building materials (ACBM)
  • Prepare an asbestos management plan (AMP) for each school building
  • Submit AMP to the DPH for review and approval prior to use as school
  • Maintain complete and up-to-date AMP at each school and in the central administration building
Note: EVERY school building must have an AMP and provide an annual notice regarding its availability, regardless of whether it is believed that the building is asbestos-free.

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Each LEA must designate a person to ensure that regulatory responsibilities are carried out. This individual is commonly referred to as the “Designated Person.” Questions concerning the school AMP should be directed to the Designated Person. The person’s name, address and phone number must be present in the AMP. Additional LEA responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Provide annual notification to parents/guardians, teachers and staff of the availability of the AMP
  • Select and implement appropriate response action, based upon assessment of ACBM
  • Provide asbestos training to custodial and maintenance staff: new employees must be trained within 60 days of employment
  • Ensure short term workers are provided with AMP to determine ACBM location
  • Conduct 6 month periodic surveillance to document changes in condition of ACBM
  • Conduct a re-inspection every 3 years following implementation of AMP
  • Document and update each copy of the AMP regarding all asbestos related activities
These are the major differences between AHERA and CT regulations for regulating asbestos in schools:
    • Asbestos abatement may not be performed during regular school hours without prior written approval by
    the DPH
    • Documentation of Three- Year Reinspection must be submitted to the DPH within 30 days of
    reinspection
    • During the reinspection, samples must be collected on any newly friable ACBM that was already assumed
    to be ACBM
    • Warning labels shall be posted in routine maintenance areas in a bilingual form whenever it is determined
    that a significant student and/or employee population requires a translated format
    Note 1: The Asbestos “National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants” (NESHAP, 40 CFR, Part 61) is a federal regulation that requires a thorough inspection be conducted to determine the presence of asbestos is present prior to commencement of any renovation or demolition activity. In order to achieve compliance with the Asbestos NESHAP requirements, an inspection that is destructive in nature is often needed to augment an inspection performed under the Asbestos Containing Materials in Schools regulation.
    Note 2: Asbestos abatement in school facilities requires the use of licensed and accredited contractors and consultants. Check for DPH- issued worker/supervisor certificates in addition to annual training certificates, licenses are not issued for these individuals.


    ASBESTOS PROGRAM
    410 Capitol Avenue
    MS #51 AIR
    PO Box 340308
    Hartford, CT.
    06134-0308
    Phone: 860-509-7367 / Fax: 860-509-7378
    F o c u s o n A s b e s t o s i n S c h o o l s

    Link to DPH PROGRAM: www.ct.gov/dph/asbestos