AHERA

AHERA NOTIFICATION

We are concerned about the health and safety of our students, faculty, building occupants and staff and also contractors who work in our facilities. We have recently had our facilities inspected for asbestos‐containing materials by Riverside County Environmental Health Department, Office of Industrial Hygiene, a State certified asbestos consultant. The inspection results were evaluated and an operations and maintenance program was developed by a certified management planner at Riverside County Environmental Health Department.

In the past, asbestos was used extensively in building materials because of its insulating, sound absorbing, and fire retarding capabilities. Virtually any building constructed before the late 1970s contained some asbestos. Intact and undisturbed asbestos materials generally do not pose a health risk. Asbestos materials, however, can become hazardous when, due to damage or deterioration over time, they release fibers. If the fibers are inhaled, they can lead to health problems, such as cancer and asbestosis.

In 1986, Congress passed the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) which requires schools to be inspected to identify any asbestos containing building materials. Suspected asbestos-containing building materials were located, sampled (or assumed) and rated according to condition and potential hazard. Every three years, the Hemet Unified School District has had a re-inspection performed by Riverside County Environmental Health Department to determine whether the condition of the known or assumed asbestos containing building materials (ACBM) has changed and to make recommendations on managing or removing the ACBM.

We have copies of this operations and maintenance program in our maintenance office. We require all our personnel to review the management plan before beginning work in an area that may contain asbestos‐containing materials (ACM). Their review of the Plan will alert them to any ACM in the area and what work practices should be used. We now require all contractors who work in our facilities to re view the Asbestos Management Plan before beginning work in our facilities and strictly follow safe work practices to avoid disturbing the

ACM.

We intend to fully comply with all relevant EPA and OSHA regulations in this area and will be closely monitoring all asbestos activities. We look forward to working with you in the future to protect the health of our students and faculty and provide a safe working environment for our employees and contractors.

Anthony Pipkins, Director

Maintenance and Operations