Call for schools asbestos survey

TUC Risks 23rd February reported that Teaching union ATL is urging the government to carry out a survey of all schools to check whether asbestos is present.

It is warning that putting a drawing pin into a classroom wall or slamming a classroom door 'could be enough to sign a death warrant' and is calling for asbestos to be removed from all schools by 2010.

Asbestos was used extensively as a building material between 1945 and early 1980s in new and refurbished schools.

Pre-fabricated schools of the CLASP, SCOLA and Hills type commonly used asbestos, the union said.

At its annual conference in Torquay in March, ATL members will be asked to support a demand that the government conducts a survey of all educational establishments to determine whether asbestos is present, and to ensure all asbestos is removed by licensed contractors by 2010.

ATL general secretary Dr Mary Bousted said: 'We are deeply concerned about the continuing risk to teachers, support staff and pupils from asbestos in our schools. There is still too little information about asbestos. We don't know how many schools still contain asbestos, so most teachers have little idea of whether they or their pupils are being exposed to it.' She added: 'Schools should keep and maintain asbestos registers to record the locations and condition of any asbestos, and let staff know.' HSE figures suggest at least 182 people working in education died in Great Britain between 1980 and 2000 from the asbestos cancer mesothelioma alone. The figure for asbestos-related lung and other cancers is likely to be higher still.

(Editor's Note: The HSE's recommendation is to manage asbestos rather than to remove it).