Teachers warn of asbestos danger
Updated on 15 February 2008
A teachers' union is calling for a national survey of all schools to discover the extent of asbestos use in buildings.
The material was used extensively in schools built between the Second World War and the early 1980s, and an estimated 13,000 schools in the UK could contain it.
The Association of Teachers and Lecturers claimed that slamming a classroom door or putting a pin in a wall in some of these schools could be fatal.
ATL general secretary Mary Bousted, said: "We are deeply concerned about the continuing risk to teachers, support staff and pupils from asbestos in our schools.
"Over 400 ATL members know they have been exposed to asbestos in their school or college. But this is the tip of the iceberg."
A spokesman for the Department for Children, Schools and Families said the union's warning about drawing pins was "irresponsible, scaremongering".
"The health and welfare of pupils and staff is absolutely paramount," he said.
"It is unacceptable for local authorities and other duty holders not to comply with the Health and Safety Executive's guidance and law.
"HSE advice is absolutely clear that if asbestos is not disturbed or damaged then it is usually safer to leave it in place and manage it.
"This means that robust processes must be in place to control asbestos in schools, and that the risk to staff and pupils is absolutely negligible."
The HSE said there were thought to be 1,400 UK schools that could have problems with asbestos, but stressed that there was no "significant risk" to children as long as its advice was followed.
The building material was widely used as insulation before it was banned completely in 1999.
Exposure to asbestos can cause fatal forms of cancer.
ATL claims between 1980 and 2000, 182 people working in education in Britain died from mesothelioma alone.
Dr Bousted said: "Many teachers and pupils will be unaware, and because asbestos related illnesses take between 15 to 60 years to develop it is difficult to know how many will become ill or die as a result of exposure.
"The health of thousands of young people and those working in education is far too precious to allow this to be swept under the carpet any longer."
Delegates at ATL's annual conference next month will call for all asbestos to be removed from schools by 2010.
© Independent Television News Limited 2008. All rights reserved.
These news feeds are provided by an independent third party and Channel 4 is not responsible or liable to you for the same.
