columbus-logo3-4

An asbestos issue led to a fine for Columbus Community School District from OSHA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. According to OSHA, the informal settlement resulted in a penalty of $2,605 for failure to abate. The emphasis was on asbestos in the elementary and secondary schools. The issue was categorized as serious. The case was opened August 6th and closed September 19th.

Asbestos used to be installed as insulation and a fire retardant in buildings but the fibers of the material may be released into the air and then breathed in, increasing the risk of developing lung disease. The Environmental Protection Agency sites the three major health effects associated with asbestos exposure as lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis.