Seoul Metropolitan Institute of Health and Environment and Education Office Sign Agreement to Strengthen School Asbestos Safety Management

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] The Seoul Metropolitan Institute of Health and Environment and the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education announced on the 18th that they will sign a "business agreement for creating a safe school environment free from asbestos concerns."

According to the agreement, starting from this winter vacation, the Seoul Metropolitan Institute of Health and Environment will investigate the concentration of asbestos in indoor air at kindergartens, elementary, middle, and high schools where asbestos dismantling and removal work has been completed during every vacation period.

In particular, in addition to the existing inspections by the Office of Education that collect dust and residues for examination using a scanning electron microscope, they plan to use a transmission electron microscope to closely verify the safety of airborne asbestos, thereby more definitively alleviating concerns about asbestos residues that may remain after the construction.

Previously, during the summer vacation period from August to September, the Institute of Health and Environment, together with the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, investigated indoor air at 112 locations across 18 schools in Seoul where asbestos dismantling and removal work was conducted. This was the first investigation of airborne asbestos concentration after construction among local governments nationwide.

The two organizations will also cooperate in areas such as ▲joint management of school asbestos safety ▲education and advisory cooperation on school asbestos management ▲mutual sharing of necessary information and technology ▲consultation on media coverage including newspapers and broadcasts, and public promotion to citizens.

Shin Yong-seung, Director of the Seoul Metropolitan Institute of Health and Environment, said, "As a specialized asbestos analysis institution, we will utilize the analytical and research capabilities we have accumulated to prevent health damage and alleviate anxiety among students, teachers, and staff, and cooperate with the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education to create a safe school environment free from asbestos."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.