asbestos

Hello my name is Tino Pastrana. I am the Compliance Coordinator for the Davis School District.One of duties is to inform everyone about the location and condition of all asbestos in Davis School District buildings.This is accomplished through a mandated EPA periodic surveillance.In which each district building containing asbestos is inspected twice a year.

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral from the silicon and magnesium family. It is composed of a hollow, microscopic fiber that is nearly indestructible.Asbestos can be bonded with other substances making a tough, durable and flexible material with many uses.It was used for insulation, fireproofing, roofing, and soundproofing in homes, auditoriums, and offices and in most buildings constructed prior to October 12, 1988.After this date the EPA banned asbestos containing building materials (ACBM) and alternative building materials were used.

Asbestos products are categorized in two classes: Friable and Non-Friable. When dry friable asbestos can be reduced to powder by hand pressure. A sprayed-on asbestos acoustical ceiling falls into this category. Non-friable asbestos is usually found bonded into other materials. These materials fibers are harder to break down into powder but grinding, sanding and cutting can still release fibers.

The majority of asbestos in the district is found in the floor tiles.The next most likely area to find asbestos or ACBM would be in the boiler rooms and the insulation of hot water piping.There are other areas where asbestos may be found but they are usually only accessible to maintenance and service contractors who are trained to work on and around asbestos.

The location and quantity of all ACBM in any specific building is documented in a book called the AHERA Asbestos Management Plan.It is located within the proximity of the main office.If anyone questions if a building material within his or her building, is an ACBM they can refer to the book’s tab labeled Management Plan.There you will find a page behind the Executive Summary tab, listing all information for the material in question.The book also contains tabs titled Floor Plan, and Photo Log.These two sections are very informative as they show a map of the building and pictures of areas of the building that may or may not contain asbestos.

Three key words to look for in these materials are ACM (Asbestos Containing Material), non-ACM (non-Asbestos Containing Material), and Assumed ACM (Assumed Asbestos Containing Material

If there is any doubt concerning suspected ACBM, please feel free to call me at 402-5215 or cell# 510-2520.

Only full-time employees from Environmental Maintenance Services at F-3 Freeport West who have received 16 hours of proper Operations and Maintenance Program training procedures can repair and do minor removal of asbestos!

Another one of my indoor environmental duties is Mold Issues. Since there are over 2000 types of mold and fungi it is very imperative that we know what type of spores that may be present in the suspected building material.

The Davis School District takes every precaution to ensure that trained maintenance personnel or contractors that specialize in mold remediation properly perform mold issues.

I am also certified to “Train the Trainer” OSHA Code 1926.32 on operations of Boom Supported Aerial Self Propelled Elevating WorkPlatforms