CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Contractors who removed asbestos from Bridgeview Elementary Center on Monday afternoon worked on one of the school system's many summertime asbestos-abatement projects, according to county maintenance director Terry Hollandsworth.

Each summer, school officials contract with workers to remove asbestos from about 85,000 square feet of space inside several Kanawha County schools, Hollandsworth said. Last summer, contractors worked on about 100,000 square feet.

"It's mostly floor tiles, and we do a little bit of ceiling work as well," he said. "And we're removing the asbestos chalkboards while we're there, too."

Chalkboards made with asbestos are safe as long as no one drills, cuts or breaks the board, Hollandsworth said.

Also, workers will remove any pipe insulation with asbestos while they're on the job, he said. "When we go into a room to do asbestos abatement ... we do the whole room," he said.

Once students are home for the summer, contracted workers tackle projects at usually the oldest schools most in need of asbestos abatement.

"We hire contractors to come in and do the asbestos abatement, and they have to be licensed and certified," Hollandsworth said. "Asbestos abatement is heavily regulated."

After a project is complete, county maintenance crews will test the school's air quality to make sure it's safe, he said.

"I can't tell you exactly what we're doing right now at Bridgeview," Hollandsworth said Monday afternoon. The project, however, is small in nature and had been scheduled in advance, he said.

Reach Davin White at davinwh...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-1254.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Contractors who removed asbestos from Bridgeview Elementary Center on Monday afternoon worked on one of the school system's many summertime asbestos-abatement projects, according to county maintenance director Terry Hollandsworth.

Each summer, school officials contract with workers to remove asbestos from about 85,000 square feet of space inside several Kanawha County schools, Hollandsworth said. Last summer, contractors worked on about 100,000 square feet.

"It's mostly floor tiles, and we do a little bit of ceiling work as well," he said. "And we're removing the asbestos chalkboards while we're there, too."

Chalkboards made with asbestos are safe as long as no one drills, cuts or breaks the board, Hollandsworth said.

Also, workers will remove any pipe insulation with asbestos while they're on the job, he said. "When we go into a room to do asbestos abatement ... we do the whole room," he said.

Once students are home for the summer, contracted workers tackle projects at usually the oldest schools most in need of asbestos abatement.

"We hire contractors to come in and do the asbestos abatement, and they have to be licensed and certified," Hollandsworth said. "Asbestos abatement is heavily regulated."

After a project is complete, county maintenance crews will test the school's air quality to make sure it's safe, he said.

"I can't tell you exactly what we're doing right now at Bridgeview," Hollandsworth said Monday afternoon. The project, however, is small in nature and had been scheduled in advance, he said.

Reach Davin White at davinwh...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-1254.