NYC Schools Failing Asbestos Inspections: Audit Reveals Widespread Non-Compliance

Audit Findings on Asbestos Inspections

• 🎯 An audit revealed that the New York City Department of Education failed to inspect 82% of school buildings known to contain asbestos from 2021 to 2024.
• ⚠️ This non-compliance violates a federal requirement under the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act.
• 📉 Brooklyn has shown the least compliance with these inspection mandates.

Health Risks of Asbestos Exposure

• 💡 No level of asbestos exposure is considered safe, and prolonged exposure during childhood can lead to lung disease and cancer.
• ⚠️ The presence of asbestos-containing materials alone is not a risk unless disturbed and airborne.
• 🏥 A specific example cited is PS 107 in Brooklyn, which has not had a required asbestos inspection since 2008.

Custodian Inspections and School Response

• 📊 Periodic inspections, typically required every six months by custodians, were only conducted at 22% of schools with known asbestos-containing material between 2023 and 2024.
• 🛠️ A spokesperson for NYC public schools stated that custodians are trained annually and testing is required before any work that might modify a building.
• 💬 The UFT (United Federation of Teachers) has personnel available to respond to complaints about potential asbestos issues.

Call for Compliance

• 📣 New York City Comptroller Brad Lander is calling on the city to comply with federal regulations regarding asbestos inspections in schools.
• 🗣️ Lander's office conducted the audit that uncovered these widespread failures.