Education

Inspectors’ Motto: Be Prepared for the Worst

By Ellen Flax — September 28, 1989 1 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

A good asbestos inspector needs more than just good training. He or she also needs equipment--a lot of it.

Instructors at a course sponsored here by the University of Illinois at Chicago’s Midwest Asbestos Information Center recommended that students take the following items with them on inspections:

  • A ladder and flashlight to enter small, dark places.
  • Film canisters to hold asbestos samples taken from the building.
  • A plant sprayer, to dampen the area being sampled.
  • Plastic drop cloths to drape beneath the area sampled.
  • Knives, linoleum cutters, and other tools to extract samples.
  • A caulking gun to fill in the holes after the sample is taken.
  • Lots of duct tape, to replace4jackets on pipes.
  • A camera to photograph the samples as they are being taken.
  • A small blackboard or erasable writing surface, to record the date and site of the sample for photographs.
  • Diaper wipes for cleanups.
  • A clip board.
  • A vacuum cleaner with a special filter.

The instructors said it was common for inspectors to work with at least one assistant, and to tote their equipment from room to room on a cart.

In addition to the sampling equipment, inspectors also must be concerned about wearing the correct protective clothing.

The most important item is the mask, according to Gail Brandys, a self-employed asbestos consultant who led a session on the equipment needs for personal safety.

But even a well-fitting mask may not entirely eliminate an inspector’s exposure, Ms. Brandys said. A half-mask fitted with a special filter, which could cost several hundred dollars, still lets in a few small and potentially deadly asbestos fibers.

As an extra precautionary measure, she noted, inspectors and other asbestos workers wear a special paper-thin suit to protect their skin. Despite its appearance, Ms. Brandys said, the suit is very warm, and inspectors should only wear undergarments or a bathing suit beneath it.

Summarizing what might be the asbestos-workers’ code on risk-reduction, she added: “You should really prepare for the worst.”

A version of this article appeared in the September 27, 1989 edition of Education Week as Inspectors’ Motto: Be Prepared for the Worst

Events

Jobs Virtual Career Fair for Teachers and K-12 Staff
Find teaching jobs and other jobs in K-12 education at the EdWeek Top School Jobs virtual career fair.
Ed-Tech Policy Webinar Artificial Intelligence in Practice: Building a Roadmap for AI Use in Schools
AI in education: game-changer or classroom chaos? Join our webinar & learn how to navigate this evolving tech responsibly.
Education Webinar Developing and Executing Impactful Research Campaigns to Fuel Your Ed Marketing Strategy 
Develop impactful research campaigns to fuel your marketing. Join the EdWeek Research Center for a webinar with actionable take-aways for companies who sell to K-12 districts.

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

Education Briefly Stated: February 21, 2024
Here's a look at some recent Education Week articles you may have missed.
8 min read
Education Briefly Stated: February 7, 2024
Here's a look at some recent Education Week articles you may have missed.
8 min read
Education Briefly Stated: January 31, 2024
Here's a look at some recent Education Week articles you may have missed.
9 min read
Education Briefly Stated: January 17, 2024
Here's a look at some recent Education Week articles you may have missed.
9 min read