‘Tis the season for sniffles and coughs and other symptoms of the common cold....

There is little debate about the dangers of this silicate mineral fiber, once commonly used in insulation, fire retardant materials, and other construction elements. Asbestos fibers are invisible to the naked eye, and when disturbed they can be inhaled, causing serious harm, including lung cancer and asbestosis, which is damage to lung tissue. Asbestos is still present in numerous construction elements, particularly in older buildings; to limit exposure, special care must be taken in its removal. Children are especially vulnerable, and asbestos-related disease can take years to manifest itself, so evidence of the material in older schools is of particular concern.

It is easy to throw caution to the wind when the office is paying for supplies, business travel...