10.2190/5C7H-UDBF-AEYJ-9QFD 5C7HUDBFAEYJ9QFD 2 Current and Potential Asbestos Hazard Assessments: Effects of Inspectors' Training and Professional Background 137 150 20020509 20020509 20020509 20020509 5C7HUDBFAEYJ9QFD.pdf http://baywood.metapress.com/link.asp?target=contribution&id=5C7HUDBFAEYJ9QFD 2 Edward Mensah Anthony Bilotti Michael Cailas University of Illinois at Chicago Federal legislation has created a structure for the inspection and assessment of asbestos in schools and commercial buildings. Unlike other air pollution programs, these assessments are based on visual inspections by certified inspectors rather than more objective air monitoring data. Considering the multi-billion dollar abatement expenditures that have been made based upon these inspections, little information presently exists to indicate the level of consistency of damage estimates made by certified inspectors.This article reports on an analysis of the consistency of asbestos damage assessments using a sample of 250 novice and experienced certified inspectors taking inspection courses at University of Illinois Midwest Training Center. The analysis sought to determine the level of consistency of damage estimates and the effects of experience and professional background on the assessments of current and potential damage of asbestos material in a variety of settings.

K. G. Croke and A. J. Bilotti, Evaluating the Judgements of Asbestos Inspectors, The National Asbestos Council Journal, pp. 26-30, Summer 1990.

Georgia Institute of Technology, Model EPA Curriculum for Training Building Inspectors, Atlanta, Georgia, 1988.

The Midwest Environmental and Industrial Health Training Center, Building Inspection Course Manual, The USEPA Training Course Curriculum, University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health, Chicago, Illinois, 1990.

K. G. Croke, E. Mensah, R. Fabian, and G. Tolley, Asbestos in Buildings: Effects on Residential and Commercial Real Estate Values, Environmental Professional, 11, pp. 256-263, 1989.