Evaluation of the Implementation of Operations and Maintenance Programs in New Jersey Schools.

All schools are required to develop and implement an asbestos management plan (AMP). The key component of this plan is each school's operations and maintenance (O&M) program. This report outlines the importance of such programs. It describes an O&M program as an administrative framework that prescribes specific activities and work procedures to control and respond to activities that may disturb asbestos-containing materials. The program's success is contingent on the commitment of all personnel involved in conscientiously implementing O&M program elements and in conducting O&M activities. For this report, a study was conducted to evaluate the implementation of asbestos O&M programs at 10 sites representing 8 New Jersey schools. Each school's O&M program and program compliance were documented. Furthermore, 10 ongoing O&M activities were documented to determine the impact of the activities on airborne asbestos levels. The study found that, overall, the schools were not completely implementing all the elements of the asbestos O&M program as outlined by the EPA and other guidelines. Elements of the program were not performed or they were not communicated to workers or contractors. The report provides a list of references and two appendixes, which include a sample NJDOH-EHS site evaluation/assessment documentation form and a tabular compilation of individual estimates of airborne asbestos concentrations measured before and during O&M activities. (Contains 12 figures and 11 tables.) (RJM)