NUT lessons on school asbestos

NUT lessons on school asbestos

Schools should conduct thorough asbestos surveys and headteachers, governors and premises staff must have better knowledge of asbestos management, teaching union NUT has said. The union's briefing, prepared after teachers and staff were placed at risk when asbestos was disturbed at a Derby school and the city's council was prosecuted successfully in May (Risks 307), says visual inspections of schools for a potential asbestos risk are not enough. 'Asbestos in poor condition may be hidden away in ceiling voids or behind wall panels and therefore not visible, but fibres may nonetheless seep through cracks and contaminate classrooms and other areas,' the guide says. It is critical of both government and Health and Safety Executive policies which say as long as asbestos is in good condition, it should be managed and not removed. 'Schools cannot say that their asbestos is in good condition unless they have taken measures to identify all of it and assess its condition,' NUT says. It adds that measures must be in place to ensure building work does not create risks, with all work undertaken by approved contractors. 'Protocols should be in place at school level so as to ensure that information about asbestos is passed on to contractors who are about to start work in schools.' The NUT's 10-point action plan concludes: 'Planned asbestos removal should take place during periods of school closure. In emergency situations, for example when asbestos in poor condition is uncovered, the area should be evacuated and sealed off immediately.'

• NUT health and safety briefings webpage. NUT briefing: Asbestos - lessons to be learned report [word]. NUT circular: Asbestos - Focus on Removal in 2007 [word]. HSE guide: Asbestos in schools.