Asbestos danger in schools

British schools are putting staff and pupils at risk by failing to safely maintain asbestos, says a new study.

Asbestos kills around 4,000 people a year
 

The Asbestos Management in Schools report finds that none of the 16 schools they surveyed were conforming to health and safety guidelines regarding maintaining asbestos. The Asbestos Testing and Consultants Association (ATAC) who conducted the research, estimates that 4,000 people die every year from asbestos inhalation. “Asbestos claims many lives every year, but it is often years later that the consequences of exposure become clear,” says Dave Prentis, General Secretary of Unison.

Around 500,000 non-domestic buildings including schools contain asbestos, says the Health and Safety Executive. Despite this, current government guidelines ask schools to maintain asbestos levels safely, rather than remove them completely. However, the report finds that schools lack the resources to maintain asbestos safely: “This is a major risk to both pupils and staff and we have already seen too many deaths as a result of poor asbestos management,” says Paul Rowen, MP and Chair of the Campaign against Asbestos in Schools.

During the 1950’s, asbestos was widely used for fire protection and insulation in new buildings or refurbishments. Asbestos can be harmless if correctly maintained, but if it is damaged or deteriorates then poisonous fumes are given out. If inhaled, this can cause fatal mesothelioma, lung cancer, or other less serious respiratory diseases. It was not until 1983 that asbestos regulations were brought into effect.

It is important to make sure that asbestos in all buildings is maintained or eradicated properly. As the report suggests: “Effective asbestos management can be very expensive and the standards vary enormously.” To be safe, you should hire an asbestos removal professional who is an ATAC member.

AB