Managing Asbestos in Schools

Here at Asbestos Waste Solutions, we feel it is our duty to continually educate our readers through our blog, highlighting the dangers of asbestos that still plague our society. One of the places where asbestos is still being found – a place where eradication is particularly important – is in our schools.

This year, a government report has concluded that thousands of schools across the UK are failing to follow the proper health and safety guidelines when it comes to asbestos. For example, at least a fifth of schools which responded to the survey were not following asbestos procedures properly, leaving millions of children at risk of inhaling the deadly fibres. On top of this, around a hundred of these schools were ignoring these guidelines to the extent that government intervention was required.

If alarm bells are ringing, they probably should be. That’s why, this month, the team at Asbestos Waste Solutions will be covering the important things you need to know about asbestos in schools.

Where is asbestos found in schools?

Although it’s not always too easy to tell, unfortunately, if a school was built before 2000, then the chances are that the buildings will contain some form of asbestos. There are many places where it could be found, but here is a list of the most common places:

• Lagging and insulation: This type of asbestos can be found in or on heating systems such as boilers and pipework, used primarily for its insulative properties. This is arguably one of the most dangerous places for asbestos to be; any disturbance of the lagging could easily lead to the inhalation of fibres.

• Sprayed coatings: Used for insulation and the underside of roofs, or as fire protection in ducts and partitions, sprayed coatings contain up to 85% asbestos and break up very easily. This makes it extremely dangerous in schools.

• Ceiling and floor tiles: Used as insulation in floors and the ceilings, asbestos tiles are not as harmful as other applications, and their removal can be carried out by non-licensed workers.

Who’s at risk from asbestos in schools?

Asbestos becomes particularly dangerous in schools through repair and maintenance because the fibres can easily be disturbed or damaged. This puts caretakers, unwary contractors and teachers and students who come in contact with the maintenance work particularly at risk.

Who’s responsible for managing asbestos in schools?

The person responsible for the control of asbestos in  non-domestic premises is the ‘dutyholder’, which in the case of schools is the employer. For community schools, the employer will be the local authority. However, for academies and free schools, it will be the school governors’ duty to control asbestos.

Asbestos Waste Solutions carry out safe and reliable asbestos testing and disposal throughout the UK. Our highly trained and dedicated staff serve commercial and domestic customers, and offer alternative disposal options using a specialist transfer station. Whatever the job, our guarantee to you is to remove, contain, transport and dispose of the asbestos in your property to the highest standards possible.  To arrange for asbestos testing or disposal in your home or business, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team today.

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