Just outside Athens, Georgia, workers who had been preparing to renovate the old Colbert school were forced to place their work on hold when asbestos was discovered in the school last week. Inspectors visited the site last month and uncovered the asbestos, much to the dismay of workers.

Contractors were set to start working on a group of rooms throughout the building’s west wing, according to Colbert’s Mayor John Waggoner. The long-term plan for fixing up the aging school involves repairing and renting out the west wing of the site. The east wing is currently being rented out. The aging school building was first constructed in 1926. However, it has not been a functioning school since the early 1980s.

The removal of asbestos is crucial in order to preserve public health and safety. The process can be rather lengthy, due in part to the stringent federal regulations that govern how asbestos-laden materials and handled and disposed of by workers. Asbestos exposure is conclusively linked to the development of mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer.

Mesothelioma often affects less than 3,000 Americans each year. Despite the use of palliative treatment methods like chemo, there is no known cure for mesothelioma. The disease typically lies dormant for many decades, but the cancer can kill shortly after the onset of symptoms. Many patients lose their battle with this form of cancer within two years following diagnosis.

Renovations now will not begin until after the city council convenes next month to discuss how to finance the asbestos removal, according to Mr. Waggoner.

Legal Disclaimer:

EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.