Asbestos in schools
Asbestos, once a staple material in the construction of educational facilities, has now become a subject of concern for schools. This article examines the best practices for asbestos in schools, effective asbestos safety management and the historical use of asbestos in school buildings. It focuses on the legal framework governing asbestos in schools, provides a checklist to help review and improve your asbestos safety management strategies, offers insights into the planned Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspections and outlines the steps you need to take to ensure compliance and safety.
Asbestos, renowned for its fireproofing and flexibility, was a common building material in school construction during the 1950s ‘baby boomer’ era and subsequent refurbishments. A 2019 Department for Education report found that over 80% of school sites contained asbestos. Asbestos is commonly found in insulation, ceiling tiles, roof panels, gutters, pipes and other materials. Asbestos in schools pose health risks only if disturbed or damaged, releasing fibres into the air. Properly managed asbestos in good condition, however, presents an extremely low health risk.
Asbestos in schools – The risks
In recent years, asbestos in schools has been linked to health risks, particularly in schools built before 2000, have become more evident. There have been cases where staff members have received compensation due to severe health problems caused by asbestos in schools exposure, highlighting the need for better management of asbestos in schools. These health risks do not seem to have been properly addressed. The Department for Education found in their 2019 report that nearly 20% of schools were not managing asbestos correctly according to government guidelines. Furthermore, in 2022/23, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) took enforcement action against 7% of the schools inspected.
Due to the extensive number of schools where buildings contain asbestos, coupled with the increasing awareness of health risks associated with asbestos exposure and the subsequent poor management of asbestos safety in schools, there has been a need for improved asbestos safety management practices. This has led to intervening actions by the HSE. Starting from September 2022, the HSE will inspect primary and secondary schools to evaluate their compliance with asbestos safety requirements. The inspections will assess a school’s risk management processes regarding Asbestos-Containing Materials (ACM) and their adherence to statutory duties. Schools are advised to review their asbestos safety systems to ensure legal compliance. In this article, we will explore in more detail the steps schools need to take and examine the legal obligations they must adhere to in order to protect staff from the safety risks of asbestos
Asbestos in schools – The legal landscape
The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 impose a general duty on employers to safeguard the health and welfare of their employees, specifically concerning risks posed by substances like asbestos. Schools must also adhere to the guidelines set out in the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 (CAR 2012), which outline the responsibilities for premises owners or managers where asbestos may be present.
The HSE’s Approved Code of Practice for CAR 2012 designates the ‘duty holder’ as the person in charge of maintenance activities. In many schools, this role falls to the employer, who may be the local authority, or responsibility is shared between the school and the LA. For academies, where financial control for maintenance is delegated, the responsibility often falls to the school governors and in private schools, it may be the trustees or the proprietor. With the shift towards academy status, concerns have been raised about the management of asbestos in schools due to their inexperience in these matters.
To support schools, particularly those with limited experience in asbestos management, the Department for Education with HSE backing, has created a detailed checklist. This checklist is designed to help those responsible for school building maintenance review and improve their asbestos safety strategies. The key areas of this checklist include:
- Responsibility: Identifying the duty holder and clearly defining roles and responsibilities in managing asbestos.
- Survey: Ensuring an up-to-date asbestos management survey is conducted with the risk of asbestos on the premises.
- Management: Maintaining and reviewing a current asbestos management plan to mitigate safety risks.
- Disturbance: Establishing systems and procedures to inform and protect anyone who might disturb asbestos.
- Training: Ensuring staff have been properly briefed, the training needs of staff are recognised and they are then provided with the correct type of training.
Asbestos in schools – Preparing for the school asbestos safety inspections
To prepare for upcoming HSE inspections, schools must establish a detailed asbestos n schools safety management plan. This plan should involve taking ‘reasonable steps’ to determine the presence, quantity and condition of asbestos on the premises. Key elements of the plan should include:
- Identifying the presence of Asbestos-Containing Materials (ACMs), assuming materials contain asbestos unless strong evidence suggests otherwise.
- Conducting an asbestos in schools management survey to produce a written record of the location and condition of ACMs.
- Evaluating the risks from each identified ACM.
- Training staff in asbestos awareness through an asbestos awareness course (category A), particularly targeting those like caretakers and tradespeople, who are likely to encounter asbestos.
- Developing and implementing a plan for managing risks, including immediate action for damaged or disturbed materials.
- Regularly reviewing and monitoring the plan, adapting it as necessary to ensure relevance and accuracy.
- Prioritising and scheduling removal or encapsulation by competent specialists if required.
- Ensuring all staff, both teaching and non-teaching, are aware of asbestos-related documentation, management plan and receive appropriate training.
- Setting timelines and procedures for reviewing the management plan.
- Establishing protocols for emergency situations.
These comprehensive plans are crucial to ensuring that everyone, from school staff to the emergency services, is well-informed about the presence of asbestos in schools and understands the protocols for handling it safely and effectively.
Asbestos in schools – Training school staff in asbestos safety
Asbestos awareness training is essential for some core school staff, including headteachers, bursars and certain teachers and support staff. This training will ensure that they can identify and avoid disturbing asbestos in their schools, thereby preventing both staff and pupils from inadvertently coming into contact with it. Additionally, it’s important for local authorities and other officials involved with a school that are responsible for supervising and allocating resources to be well-informed about their legal and practical responsibilities for effective asbestos safety management. The training should be tailored to the specific roles and responsibilities of the staff.
The most fundamental level of this training, known as Category A asbestos awareness training, is suitable for most teachers and staff members. While teachers do not need to learn the procedures for safely removing asbestos, it is crucial for them to be able to recognise asbestos-containing materials and understand the importance of not disturbing them to maintain a safe environment.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the management of asbestos in schools is important and intricate requiring attention to legal compliance, risk assessments and staff training. As schools across the country grapple with the legacy of asbestos use, the importance of establishing robust safety management plans and ensuring staff awareness cannot be overstated. This article has highlighted effective strategies for handling Asbestos-Containing Materials, ensuring that schools are well-informed and by prioritising health and safety through informed action plans and rigorous training, schools can create a safer environment for all staff and mitigate the risks associated with this hazardous material.
Resources
For more information, visit the HSE’s website on managing asbestos in schools:
Government website information on managing asbestos in schools:
- Managing asbestos in your school or college
- Legislative framework
- Asbestos and when it becomes a risk
- Responsibilities for managing asbestos
- Day to day management of asbestos in schools and colleges
- Asbestos management during maintenance or building works
- What to do when things go wrong
- Funding for asbestos works
- Related organisations – guidance
Welsh Government
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