2016 asbestos survey raised no concerns in courthouse – The Herald Bulletin

ANDERSON No action was taken by Madison County officials following an asbestos survey in 2016 because there was no reason for concerns.

The problem surfaced when work was started on the replacement of the heating and cooling system in the courthouse, which prompted an air-quality test in July.

An informational meeting concerning asbestos discovered in the Madison County Government Center has been rescheduled.

The question-and-answer session will take place at 11 a.m. Wednesday in the council chambers of the Madison County Government Center, 16 E. Ninth St.

The asbestos in the building, constructed in 1973, was first discovered in October 2016 in a survey report completed by HydroTech Environmental Consulting & Engineering at the request of former property manager Denny Williamson.

Williamson said Monday that Human Resources Director Melinda Neeley requested the survey for compliance through Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA.

He said the survey results were provided to Neeley and Dan Dykes, county administrator.

They knew asbestos was found in the building, Williamson said of the 2016 report. It was up to them to do a follow-up.

Neeley said Monday the 2016 survey was done as part of a Voluntary Protection Plan and the county was working with OSHA.

We wanted to be pro-active in providing a healthy workplace, she said.

Neeley said she received the HydroTech survey in late 2016 or earlier this year.

I was told we didnt have an asbestos concern, she said.

Dykes said he saw the report for the first time last week. Since the 2016 survey found no reasons for concerns, no follow-up took place, he said.

That survey found the presence of asbestos on sprayed-on fireproofing material. The inspection determined the fireproofing material was considered to be friable, which can become airborne if disturbed.

The fireproofing material was sprayed on structural steel beams and columns throughout the building, located on ceilings and walls in various rooms and on plumbing pipes above the dropped ceiling tiles.

The Madison County commissioners said last week that during the installation of the new heating and cooling system, asbestos insulation was detected in crawl spaces above some of the ceilings.

The county hired Micro Air in July to measure the level asbestos fibers in the courthouse.

The Micro Air report showed that no asbestos was present in any air samples collected in the Government Center, the statement said. Further, Micro Air believes that airborne asbestos contamination is currently not an area of concern.

Remediation of the asbestos will have to take place before the installation of the new heating and cooling system can be completed.

Follow Ken de la Bastide on Twitter @KendelaBastide, or call 765-640-4863.

If you go

What: Question-and-answer session on asbestos in the courthouse

Who: Madison County Board of Commissioners

When: 11 a.m. Wednesday

Where: Council chambers, Madison County Government Center, 16 E. Ninth St.

Follow Ken de la Bastide on Twitter @KendelaBastide, or call 640-4863.

More:
2016 asbestos survey raised no concerns in courthouse - The Herald Bulletin