Asbestos in schools: Useful Links

Following a comment from a listener we took a look at the issue of asbestos in schools.

In the past, asbestos was widely used in schools, both as a building material and in the classroom. Teaching union, the ATL told us that its lawyers, acting on behalf of the widow of a teacher whose death was caused by exposure to asbestos during a long teaching career, had won a £290,000 settlement after the union initiated court proceedings.

But there's still a considerable legacy of asbestos in older school buildings. The government estimates that in England, "asbestos-containing materials can be found in around 70 per cent of school buildings."

Their view is that it's safe to leave asbestos containing materials in school provided they are undamaged and carefully managed, removing it, they say, would only risk putting more asbestos fibres into the air.

They say, ""By law, tough, robust processes must be in place in schools to carefully monitor asbestos - which we and the HSE continually assess. It is unacceptable for local authorities and school employers not to fully comply - no ifs or buts."

MP's and ministers discussed asbestos in schools in a Westminster Hall debate last Wednesday. If you are interested in the topic it's worth looking at.. A similar discussion held in Cardiff the day before is written up here.

It's an area of great controversy. If you want to read more on the subject the following links might be of interest.

• The Health and Safety Executive on asbestos


• Professor Julian Peto's research into occupational mesothelioma


• British Lung Foundation action on Mesothelioma.


• ATL campaign on asbestos


• The website of Asbestos Exposure Schools

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