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Asbestos in SchoolsAsbestos in SchoolsWhat does the cancellation of BSF mean for What does the cancellation of BSF mean for

Schools?Schools?

Brief History

There are aboutThere are about 21,000 Primary Schools21,000 Primary Schools 4000 Secondary Schools4000 Secondary Schools 1500 Special schools1500 Special schools 2500 Independent School2500 Independent School In the United KingdomIn the United Kingdom

Assessment of Asbestos Assessment of Asbestos Management in SchoolsManagement in Schools

Undertaken by the Asbestos Testing and Undertaken by the Asbestos Testing and Consultants Association (ATaC) Consultants Association (ATaC)

January 24January 24thth 2010 2010

““Providing that asbestos-containing materials are maintained in good Providing that asbestos-containing materials are maintained in good condition, they can be left where they are and managed until a building condition, they can be left where they are and managed until a building reaches the end of its life.”reaches the end of its life.”

““Although it is worrying to teachers and parents that schools contain Although it is worrying to teachers and parents that schools contain asbestos, asbestos does not pose a serious risk if it is managed properly in asbestos, asbestos does not pose a serious risk if it is managed properly in accordance with the Control of Asbestos Regulations.”1accordance with the Control of Asbestos Regulations.”1 Letter Minister of Letter Minister of State for Schools and Learners Rt Hon Jim Knight MP 30th April 2009State for Schools and Learners Rt Hon Jim Knight MP 30th April 2009

“We believe that the majority of school employers and particularly local authorities are managing their asbestos responsibly.”2 Letter Minister of State for Schools and Learners Rt Hon Jim Knight MP 27th November 2008

“Apart from the fact that the survey was restricted to asbestos management in system built schools, the NUT questions how it can be claimed that the majority of local authorities meet legal requirements in terms of asbestos management when only 42 were actually visited by HSE inspectors. The other 110 simply completed an on-line survey, making the survey essentially a paper exercise, reliant on local authorities admitting to failings in their system of asbestos management in order to trigger a visit from the HSE. A true understanding of the nature of the problem can only be gained when a full independent national audit of all schools is undertaken – something for which the NUT has called many years.“With more and more schools opting out of local authority control, the NUT is concerned that standards of asbestos management will fall further, leading to greater numbers of exposure incidents. We fear also that the findings of this limited survey will be used to justify the abolition of a recently-established DfE steering group which was set up with the aim of improving asbestos management in schools.”

Cancelling school building programme puts Cancelling school building programme puts

children at risk of asbestos exposurechildren at risk of asbestos exposure

Kevin Rowan, Regional Secretary of the Northern TUC said: 'Many schools in the region are in a terrible state of disrepair. Teachers, governing bodies, pupils and parents have been waiting desperately for new building work to take place, to allow them to enjoy working and learning in a decent, safe and healthy environment. Now they continue to face risks of serious and potentially fatal hazards due to the lack of investment in the maintenance and improvement of their schools.'The Government must make funds available now, to all schools who need it, to secure a better and safer environment for children, teachers and school staff alike.'

Mick Lyons National Executive Member of The Teacher's Union, NASUWT, for the North East said: 'Asbestos in schools is a ticking time-bomb. Over 190 colleagues have died through asbestos exposure across the country so far, with the unfortunate spectre of many more to come. Scrapping the BSF programme has left older schools - and those who have to spend time in them, extremely vulnerable. Schools are meant to be a place of security and education, not fear of ill-health and bringing the legacy of grave mistakes made pre-1970s into the 21st century.'

Dave PrentisDave Prentis, General Secretary of UNISON, the , General Secretary of UNISON, the UK's largest public sector union, said:UK's largest public sector union, said:

""UNISON welcomes Lord Hill's recognition of the UNISON welcomes Lord Hill's recognition of the need to tackle this problem urgently. We look need to tackle this problem urgently. We look forward to working with him to getting to grips forward to working with him to getting to grips with the true extent of the problem, by playing with the true extent of the problem, by playing our part in the joint working group due to start our part in the joint working group due to start next month.next month.

“Put simply, there should be no place for “Put simply, there should be no place for asbestos in our schools. Children, staff and asbestos in our schools. Children, staff and parents should have the right to know they are parents should have the right to know they are learning in a safe and healthy environment. But learning in a safe and healthy environment. But asbestos - especially without proper asbestos - especially without proper management - is anything but safe.management - is anything but safe.

"It is vital that the Government recognises that "It is vital that the Government recognises that asbestos in schools is a health hazard and that asbestos in schools is a health hazard and that they should take urgent action to have it they should take urgent action to have it removed, and make sure it is properly managed. removed, and make sure it is properly managed.

"With more schools being taken out of local "With more schools being taken out of local authority control, UNISON is deeply concerned authority control, UNISON is deeply concerned that standards of asbestos management - which that standards of asbestos management - which are already seriously failing - will decline even are already seriously failing - will decline even further. Schools will not get the help they need further. Schools will not get the help they need to deal with this dangerous problem, and this will to deal with this dangerous problem, and this will sadly lead only to a more children and staff sadly lead only to a more children and staff losing their lives.losing their lives.

Unison members protestingat Waltham Forest’s Enforcement notice from the HSE

Where now forSchools?

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