Teachers Union Calls for National Asbestos Survey
Britain’s Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) is making an appeal for a national survey of all schools to discover the extent of asbestos use in school buildings.
According to a story aired on a British news station, an estimated 13,000 schools in the UK probably contain asbestos as a large majority of schools in the country were built between World War II and the 1980s, when asbestos use was at its peak.
The ATL claims 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.”
But others say the ATL’s claims are something akin to scare tactics, dubbing their statements “irresponsible.”
A spokesman for the Department for Children, Schools and Families said “the health and welfare of pupils and staff [at UK schools] is absolutely paramount.”
“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,” the spokesman added.
“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.”
ATL claims that between 1980 and 2000, 182 people working in education in Britain died from mesothelioma caused by exposure while on the job.
“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,” added Dr. Bousted. “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.”
