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As schools across the country gear up for the new academic year, ensuring a safe and healthy learning environment for students and staff is paramount. In school safety discussions, it can be easy to overlook hidden dangers. Among the foremost concerns in today’s schools are the threats posed by Legionella, asbestos, and lead.
With demands on the American healthcare system growing, construction projects to expand capacity or update services are a common sight in facilities across the country. However, construction and renovation projects can inadvertently pose significant health risks if not managed properly. Among the various hazards, microbiological dangers such as Legionella, molds, and other waterborne or airborne pathogens present serious concerns. Additionally, disturbances to older structures can release contaminants such as asbestos, adding to the dangers to patients, healthcare workers, and construction personnel.
Curious about the advantages and limitations of various asbestos detection methods? During my April webinar, I took a deep dive into settled dust sampling—a topic that's both technically important and practically relevant for industry professionals. Let's start with the basics: settled dust refers to those loose fibers and particles that collect on surfaces throughout buildings. For those who appreciate the technical details, ASTM defines it specifically as particulate matter measuring less than one millimeter in size.
There are five collection methods at your disposal: the scrape and scoop technique, adhesive tape sampling, micro vacuuming, wet or dry wiping, and passive monitoring. Each of these settled dust methods has its inherent strengths and weaknesses.
If you’ve been around long enough, you probably remember when the news first broke that asbestos, which had kept people safe for nearly a century, could actually kill us. Suddenly asbestos awareness was everywhere, particularly in schools.
