Southwest Asbestos Removal Notification

Asbestos Removal   NOTIFICATION  All Removal activities will be performed after school hours and during spring break.
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Southwest High School

Where? Asbestos-containing building materials will be removed at Southwest High School to facilitate the Additions and Renovations Project. The abatement areas will be secured and isolated from occupied portions of the building.

When? Asbestos abatement activities will occur starting Thursday March 12, 2015 and will be phased in conjunction with the General Construction. Asbestos removal activities will be performed after school hours.
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Why?
Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) has scheduled asbestos abatement to accommodate the Additions and Renovations Project at Southwest High School.

Who will remove the asbestos?
Qualified consultants will identify specific areas were asbestos fibers will be disturbed by construction at a specific facility. Licensed asbestos removal contractors will then conduct the removal under strict supervision. The safety of all students, staff and visitors at the school are the prime concern during removal of the asbestos-containing material.

What is asbestos and why does it have to be removed?
Asbestos is a naturally occurring fireproof fibrous mineral which was used in construction materials before the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) declared the asbestos fibers as potentially damaging to our health. The EPA mandated that school districts assess the condition of asbestos-containing materials to determine the potential of a related airborne health hazard. When building materials are disturbed during construction by demolition, drilling, cutting, or sanding, asbestos particles become airborne. Once airborne, the fibers can be inhaled and become a health hazard. MPS is removing the asbestos-containing materials in areas of the schools where construction activities will occur to eliminate any potential release of asbestos fibers into the building environment.

How is asbestos removed?
Licensed contractors follow federal and state controlled procedures for removing asbestos-containing materials from buildings. The areas where the removal takes place are sealed off in an airtight enclosure. The workers operate inside the isolated areas and use wet methods and specialized vacuum equipment to remove the asbestos-containing materials.

Why is this work being done at this time?
Asbestos removal is being performed as part of the overall abatement program
and must be completed before demolition and renovation can begin.

What do the work areas look like?
Most of the time, the work areas are enclosed by a solid, sealed barrier. Qualified
personnel continuously monitor the enclosure so no unauthorized people can
enter. The workers wear respirators and white protective suits and in most cases
will not be visible to anyone at the school because of the solid, sealed barriers.

Does the removal process present a health hazard?
No! Strict safety procedures have been implemented to protect students, teachers, and building occupants. First, the removal is being performed by professionals who are very familiar with the safety regulations, and they are being monitored by an industrial hygiene consulting firm and the MPS Facilities Department. Second, the work areas are isolated, secured and clearly marked so
that the students and teachers are aware of their location. Third, the airtight work area is controlled by special air filtering equipment which separates and collects any airborne asbestos fibers so that no fibers escape the enclosure. Air monitoring is conducted continuously in and outside the work areas, the school, and classroom areas to be sure the school environment remains safe, with no escaping asbestos fibers

Who is making sure the removal is being conducted safely?
Asbestos removal must meet strict federal, state, and local safety regulations.MPS has retained professional industrial hygiene consulting firms to monitor each removal project daily. These firms supervise the contractor’s activities and conduct air monitoring throughout the process to make sure the applicable regulations are enforced. MPS Facilities Department representatives also visit the
project sites to ensure all safety regulations are fully enforced.

When are the areas safe to use again?
As each work area is completed, it must pass very detailed and stringent clearance procedures. Highly qualified personnel visually inspect the areas to verify that asbestos has been removed properly. Then, air monitoring is performed to ensure the air is clean and meets the strict clearance criteria required by the Environmental Protection Agency and other state agencies. When these requirements are satisfied, an inspector inspects the entire project area and approves the area for reoccupancy by the school.

If you have questions, please call
Mr. Lee Setter, Project Coordinator
MPS Facilities Department
(612) 668-0308
lee.setter@mpls.k12.mn.us