Schools put on spot over asbestos

MOST schools are failing to properly protect pupils and staff from the risks of asbestos, a new study says today.

An investigation into the management of asbestos at 16 sample schools revealed that none fully complied with Health and Safety Executive rules and in some cases systems were found to be ineffective or dangerous.

The report by the Asbestos Testing and Consultancy Association, claimed the majority of schools it assessed were not managing their asbestos safely.

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Only a quarter of the schools inspected were said to have an adequate standard of asbestos management.

The report concluded: "In the majority of these schools the systems of asbestos management are not of an acceptable standard, they are ineffective and at times dangerous.

"The majority had unacceptable standards which were either ineffective or unworkable and with the potential to cause a contamination or an exposure incident.

"In one school, the system of asbestos management was virtually non-existent despite the fact that there was a significant amount of asbestos known to be present."

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The report also found two schools in the sample did not know who was in charge of asbestos management and in more than half of those schools surveyed there was evidence of damage to asbestos.

It concluded schools were not complying with their legal duty to manage asbestos and training surrounding asbestos in schools was poor or non-existent.

The audit will be handed to the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools, Hull North MP Diana Johnson, before a meeting with the Asbestos in Schools Group on Wednesday.

According to the National Union of Teachers (NUT), asbestos-related illness claimed the lives of 92 teachers and lecturers between 2001 and 2005.

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About 75 per cent of schools are thought to contain the potentially-deadly substance.

NUT general secretary Christine Blower said: "Although the sample is small, the flaws highlighted reflect what we have found to be the case over many years – that systems of asbestos management in schools fall far short of expectations.

"We simply must move forward on this issue. I call upon the Government to finally commit to a national audit of asbestos management in educational establishments."

The NUT has previously called for the removal of all asbestos from schools.

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Schools Minister Iain Wright said: "The health and welfare of pupils and staff is absolutely paramount – that's why we are listening carefully to the views of different groups on asbestos.

"By law, tough, robust processes must be in place in schools to carefully monitor asbestos. All local authorities and school employers must fully comply – no ifs or buts.

"The HSE's (Health and Safety Executive) expert advice is to remove damaged asbestos but it is safer to leave undisturbed or undamaged asbestos in place and carefully manage it.

"The HSE does not hesitate to take action in areas which are not coming up to scratch.

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"The HSE and Department for Children Schools and Families have surveyed every single local authority over the last year to assess their asbestos management and ensure that they are fulfilling their legal duties – the first ever such national audit.

"We will be producing further training and guidance on asbestos management for head teachers, governors and local authorities and we are setting up a steering group with campaigners, unions and other groups to help improve asbestos management in schools.

"We continue to invest record capital funding to sweep away the legacy of out-dated buildings – with thousands of schools being newly built, rebuilt or refurbished over the last decade and coming years."

The association's report does not identify which schools were inspected.