Asbestos in CA School is a Fining Matter

Article Added May 7th, 2006 - Print This Story - Bookmark This Story

Violations having to do with a Brentwood school have led to fines for the district. A probe into renovations by Cal-OSHA resulted in finding mold and asbestos issues throughout the project.

The Liberty Union High School District has been fined more than $14,000 and received 13 citations for asbestos and mold exposure after an investigation by Cal-OSHA. The aging Brentwood campus revealed its hazards earlier this year when an English teacher and her students were moved out of one of the school’s wings. The teacher had become ill repeatedly, and began to suspect that the school was the culprit. She had two mold sample tests completed, which came back positive for a type of toxic mold. Further tests revealed that, while some areas are safe for students and staff, other areas have to be shut down as a health hazard.

The teacher first filed a complaint in January, which resulted in the 13 citations, five of which are considered serious while the rest are standard citations. The citations have already been paid according to the district superintendent, but abatement and corrections are still being performed. Some faculty feel that the issue could have been avoided with a more proactive approach to disseminating information, resulting in less of an upset to those involved.

Article Added May 7th, 2006 - Print This Story - Bookmark This Story