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Asbestos found in more schools
TESTS being carried out across Bradford have revealed asbestos in four more schools which had previously been given the all-clear.
New checks were ordered at 47 schools which are being rebuilt across the district after traces of the potential deadly material were found at Cottingley Village Primary, near Bingley, last week.
Now asbestos dust graded category A – the most dangerous type – has been discovered at Glenaire Primary at Baildon, St James's Church Primary, Allerton, and Wyke Manor. At Harden Primary, asbestos traces were found in the bottom of nail holes in timber.
The findings follow a Yorkshire Post investigation revealing fears of a new wave of asbestos victims who have never worked or had any contact with the fatal fibre.
Bovis Lend Lease, the company overseeing the 186m programme to upgrade Bradford's schools, has admitted more cases may come to light as a 12 more schools have yet to be checked.
The new checks were sparked when asbestos was found at Cottingley on the underside of a beam in roofspace above a corridor.
It had apparently been missed when work was carried out during the Spring Bank Holiday and was only discovered by Bradford Council's own asbestos team on July 16.
Emergency work to seal or remove the asbestos will be carried out at the school, and the latest four schools, during next week's half-term holiday.
The risk to pupils and teaching staff is thought to be very low.
But Miriam Murch, health and safety adviser for the Bradford branch of the National Union of Teachers, said: "This is our worst nightmare come true. A lot of upset and worry is being caused and nobody knows if their health has been put at risk or not." Under health and safety regulations, asbestos can only be removed by licensed contractors.
Experts consider asbestos fibres to be relatively safe when they are firmly bonded or compacted within other material, but when the bonding crumbles, as can happen with abrasion or water damage, it can release fibres that penetrate deep into the lung. Victims include Huddersfield teacher Jean Whitwam, 66, who contracted the incurable asbestos-related cancer mesothelioma while working at Outlane Infant School. It is thought she was exposed to the killer while stapling children's work to the walls.
A spokesman for Bovis Lend Lease said air quality tests at Glenaire, St James's and Harden had been clear and material had been removed from Wyke Manor as work was already under way.
Phil Green, director of education at Bradford Council, said: "We are assured by Bovis that the work will be carried out by October 28 under the necessary stringent safety precautions."
sally.cope@ypn.co.uk
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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