Asbestos

Results of Voice Survey

Asbestos in Schools Group response to HSE report

Asbestos in Schools Group (AiS) press release: 21 September 2010

Thousands of staff and pupils potentially at risk as local authorities and schools fail to show that they manage asbestos safely.

The publication of a report from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) report on ‘system built’ schools (21 September 2010) highlights the need for better asbestos management, according to The Asbestos in Schools group (AiS).

Although the HSE press release asserts that the majority of local authorities are complying with official guidance, it also shows that a significant number are not managing their asbestos effectively, with a quarter of the 42 inspected requiring enforcement action to be taken through the issuing of 18 improvement notices and one prohibition notice.

These findings confirm AiS’s concerns that a significant proportion of schools are not managing their asbestos effectively.

In February, a report published by the asbestos consultants’ association ATaC of their inspections of a sample number of schools found serious flaws in asbestos management. Their report reflected what their members find in many schools up and down the country, as the chairman of ATaC stated:

"These are not minor problems that have crept in over recent years; rather they are fundamental problems that are endemic in schools in the UK."

AiS spokesman Michael Lees said:

"The HSE inspections identified that a lack of asbestos training was a common weakness in a number of the local authorities and schools they inspected. This is one of the areas that AiS had previously identified as being a widespread problem in schools, and one that has to be urgently addressed if they are to stand any chance of effectively managing their asbestos."

"The questionnaire and inspections have concentrated on one particular asbestos problem in one type of school building. It did not attempt to assess standards in traditionally built schools, it gained no information on independent schools, and 95% of dioceses, who are in the main the owners of the Voluntary Aided Schools, simply failed to reply.

"There is a serious problem of asbestos fibre release in system built schools. The problem was first discovered in 1987 in Wandsworth when dangerous levels of asbestos fibres were ejected into the rooms when a door was slammed or a wall hit. A warning was not issued and nothing was done to prevent the fibres being released in the other 13,000 system built schools in the country. In 2006, similar problems were found in a system built school in Wales and warnings and guidance were finally issued. It is unacceptable that, 23 years after the problems were first discovered, a significant number of schools and local authorities have failed to take the necessary measures to protect their staff and children from the dangers of asbestos in these schools.*

"This new HSE report highlights that many schools and local authorities are still not safely managing their asbestos and underlines the urgent need for all the schools and authorities in the country that are not adequately protecting their occupants from the dangers of asbestos, to be identified and then brought up to a safe standard.

"The previous Government recognised that measures have to be taken to improve the asbestos management in schools by establishing an expert Steering Group under the Department for Education to recommend practical measures that will achieve this. The Coalition Government has not yet confirmed that the Steering Group will continue. This report shows that it is essential that it does."

The Asbestos in Schools Group (AiS)is a group of organisations and individuals concerned about the dangers of asbestos in schools. The group is non-party political and is under the auspices of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Safety and Health.

Its expertise covers all aspects of asbestos in schools, and its support is widespread and increasing. Amongst the group’s members and supporters are MPs, all six of the teaching trade unions, the three school support staff unions, the asbestos consultants’ association, experts on risk, solicitors, doctors, the asbestos victims support forum, the health and safety campaigning organisation Hazards, the Independent Schools Bursars Association and individuals including those who have been effected by the devastating result of asbestos exposure in schools. The group’s overall aim is to make schools safe from the dangers of asbestos.

Further information:

www.asbestosexposureschools.co.uk

Contact:

Michael Lees
Email: ml@asbestosexposureschools.co.uk

Asbestos survey results - Survey of Voice members in England

ASBESTOS - Findings from Membership Annual Survey (February 2010)

The Background

Asbestos is present in around 75% of schools in Britain. Thousands of schools were built between the 1940s and 1980s when asbestos was routinely used in ceilings, wall linings and pipe lagging.

In the last 25 years, at least 178 teachers have died from mesothelioma, which is one of the most aggressive forms of cancer and linked to asbestos exposure. There are no statistics for pupil fatalities because of the long latency period of the disease.

The Control of Asbestos Regulation 2006 places duties on those responsible for the maintenance and repair of schools to take reasonable steps to identify the location and condition of Asbestos Containing Materials. The duty holder must then use this information to make a written record and management plan to ensure that the risks of exposure to asbestos are properly managed.

The Concerns

The deep concern of all the school staff unions is that there is a continuing risk to staff and pupils in schools where little is known about where asbestos is and what condition it is in. In these circumstances it follows that asbestos cannot be safely managed.

The unions are calling for an informed risk assessment of asbestos in schools and proportionate control measures. At school level, head teachers, staff and governing bodies must be adequately informed and adequately trained.

The Survey Questions

We have surveyed our members about asbestos management in their schools. The questions were:

1. Has there been an asbestos survey in your workplace in the last three years?

If yes:

a. were staff consulted about the results?

b. was any asbestos removed?

If no:

a. have you been told whether there is asbestos in the building?

b. have you been told what condition it is in?

2. Does your employer provide information about asbestos management?

3. Has anyone at your workplace received asbestos training?

The Survey Results (England)

A total of 790 questionnaires were returned from our members in England, in the following categories:

teachers
early years and child care (e.g. nursery nurse, teaching assistant, school secretary, midday supervisor)
wider workforce (e.g. caretaker, bursar, cook, technician)

1. Has there been an asbestos survey in your workplace in the last three years?

Yes No Don’t Know

Teachers 176 134 87

Early Years and Childcare 46 50 14

Wider Workforce 54 46 32

276 230 133 Total 639

Of the 639 people who answered:

43% said yes

36% said no

21% did not know

If yes:

a. were staff consulted about the results?

Yes No Don’t Know

Teachers 80 79 13

Early Years and Childcare 15 24 2

Wider Workforce 24 29 4

119 132 19 Total 270

Of the 270 people who answered:

44% said yes

49% said no

7% did not know

b. was any asbestos removed?

Yes No Don’t Know

Teachers 78 65 22

Early Years and Childcare 10 23 8

Wider Workforce 19 32 5

107 120 35 Total 262

Of the 262 people who answered:

41% said yes

46% said no

13% did not know

If no:

a. have you been told whether there is asbestos in the building?

Yes No Don’t Know

Teachers 56 137 13

Early Years and Childcare 21 47 1

Wider Workforce 23 58 6

100 242 20 Total 362

Of the 362 people who answered:

28% said yes

67% said no

5% did not know

b. have you been told what condition it is in?

Yes No Don’t Know

Teachers 32 119 30

Early Years and Childcare 12 46 1

Wider Workforce 15 52 5

59 217 36 Total 312

Of the 312 people who answered:

19% said yes

70% said no

11% did not know

2. Does your employer provide information about asbestos management?

Yes No Don’t Know

Teachers 88 258 16

Early Years and Childcare 21 79 5

Wider Workforce 27 82 10

136 419 31 Total 586

Of the 586 people who answered:

23% said yes

72% said no

5% did not know

3. Has anyone at your workplace received asbestos training?

Yes No Don’t Know

Teachers 83 176 95

Early Years and Childcare 16 69 15

Wider Workforce 28 50 33

127 295 143 Total 565

Of the 565 people who answered:

23% said yes

52% said no

25% did not know

Conclusions

There are a significant number of schools where staff are not aware of the dangers of asbestos, they do not know where it is and are not involved in its management. How can they be expected not to damage it and to ensure that pupils do not damage it?

This survey provides substantial evidence that urgent action is required to improve standards of asbestos management, particularly training for staff and authorities. The results of this survey add weight to the Voice election manifesto, which calls for:

The creation of an action plan for asbestos in schools, including: an audit of the extent, type and condition of asbestos in educational institutions and the standard of management; an assessment of the risk to those who work and learn in educational institutions; the provision of relevant training and guidance and the raising of awareness of the dangers of asbestos in these institutions so they can manage asbestos risks appropriately; and for all the asbestos to be identified and removed in a phased programme when schools are refurbished under BSF and PCP.

January 2010