School children at risk from deadly asbestos
14:08 - 01/03/2010
School children at risk from deadly a...
A recent report by the Asbestos Training and Consultancy Association (ATAC) reveals that schools throughout the UK are currently placing their staff and pupils at risk of asbestos exposure.
An estimated 75% of British schools contain the potentially lethal substance and ATAC found that the majority are failing to manage this asbestos effectively or safely. They even report that some schools appear to lack any knowledge of appropriate asbestos management.
Over 14,000 schools in Britain were built between the 1940s and 1980s, when asbestos was routinely used in ceilings, wall linings and pipe laggings. The Government’s current policy for schools states that they should leave the asbestos in place and manage it, rather than remove it, but this new report shows that many institutions are failing to comply with the regulations. ATAC argues that this is because asbestos training is either poor or non-existent in the majority of schools.
These findings are extremely worrying in light of statistics which indicate that over 178 school teachers and a number of pupils have died from the fatal disease mesothelioma, an aggressive form of cancer which can be contracted as a result of asbestos exposure.
The Chairman of ATAC, John O’Sullivan, said: “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.”
The Campaign Against Asbestos in Schools, which is working with ATAC, is now demanding that risk assessments and management plans are effectively implemented and that full training is introduced for teachers and school staff in order to raise awareness.
Paul Rowen MP, chair of the Campaign Against Asbestos in Schools said: “This report confirms what we already feared about asbestos in schools - it is simply not being dealt with. This is a major risk to both pupils and staff, and we have already seen too many deaths as a result of poor asbestos management. The Government needs to renew their efforts in tackling this problem, and ensure that the training is in place to allow school staff to deal with the problem quickly and safely.”
We offer an online training course that helps to raise awareness of the dangers of asbestos. E-learning Account Manager, Pete Stock, explains: “It is essential that anyone who comes into contact with asbestos is aware of the dangers, and this includes people who work in schools. Breathing asbestos fibres can lead to potentially fatal diseases and, as such a large amount of school buildings in Britain contain asbestos, it is a huge concern that many school staff don’t know how to manage the risks properly. Our E-Learning course covers exactly this, and can be completed by anybody with internet access. Training staff to be aware of the dangers of working with as dangerous a substance as asbestos can help to improve their safety and that of the pupils.”
For further information on the Asbestos Awareness course, or to find out about any of our E-learning titles, please call us today.
An estimated 75% of British schools contain the potentially lethal substance and ATAC found that the majority are failing to manage this asbestos effectively or safely. They even report that some schools appear to lack any knowledge of appropriate asbestos management.
Over 14,000 schools in Britain were built between the 1940s and 1980s, when asbestos was routinely used in ceilings, wall linings and pipe laggings. The Government’s current policy for schools states that they should leave the asbestos in place and manage it, rather than remove it, but this new report shows that many institutions are failing to comply with the regulations. ATAC argues that this is because asbestos training is either poor or non-existent in the majority of schools.
These findings are extremely worrying in light of statistics which indicate that over 178 school teachers and a number of pupils have died from the fatal disease mesothelioma, an aggressive form of cancer which can be contracted as a result of asbestos exposure.
The Chairman of ATAC, John O’Sullivan, said: “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.”
The Campaign Against Asbestos in Schools, which is working with ATAC, is now demanding that risk assessments and management plans are effectively implemented and that full training is introduced for teachers and school staff in order to raise awareness.
Paul Rowen MP, chair of the Campaign Against Asbestos in Schools said: “This report confirms what we already feared about asbestos in schools - it is simply not being dealt with. This is a major risk to both pupils and staff, and we have already seen too many deaths as a result of poor asbestos management. The Government needs to renew their efforts in tackling this problem, and ensure that the training is in place to allow school staff to deal with the problem quickly and safely.”
We offer an online training course that helps to raise awareness of the dangers of asbestos. E-learning Account Manager, Pete Stock, explains: “It is essential that anyone who comes into contact with asbestos is aware of the dangers, and this includes people who work in schools. Breathing asbestos fibres can lead to potentially fatal diseases and, as such a large amount of school buildings in Britain contain asbestos, it is a huge concern that many school staff don’t know how to manage the risks properly. Our E-Learning course covers exactly this, and can be completed by anybody with internet access. Training staff to be aware of the dangers of working with as dangerous a substance as asbestos can help to improve their safety and that of the pupils.”
For further information on the Asbestos Awareness course, or to find out about any of our E-learning titles, please call us today.
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