A pipe fitter claims to have found asbestos in seven NYC public schools and one Department of Education office. The man says he's asked officials to remove the asbestos but knows of only one instance where they did actually remove it as the cost has stopped his supervisors from ordering removal despite the health risks to students and staff. When properly contained or encapsulated, asbestos is considered safe, but he's repeatedly found it in its loose, dangerous form.
The Department of Education Division of School Facilities denied receiving any complaints from him. However, his lawyer produced several written requests to supervisors within the last year. A DOE spokeswoman insisted that the city's schools are safe and that the agency removes exposed asbestos as soon as alerted.
But a lab hired by the pipe fitter and his lawyer found asbestos in samples obtained from the eight sites last November and December 2006.
Source: Dangerous Asbestos Found in New York Schools - http://www.nypost.com/seven/04162007/news/regionalnews/asbestos_fury_regionalnews_denise_buffa.htm
