The need for action Sarah Lyons Principal Officer Pay Conditions and Bargaining National Union of Teachers Why is asbestos in schools such a concern 86 of schools in England contain asbestos ID: 526462
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Asbestos in Schools: The need for action
Sarah LyonsPrincipal OfficerPay, Conditions and BargainingNational Union of TeachersSlide2
Why is asbestos in schools such a concern?86% of schools in England contain asbestos
It’s more easily disturbed than in other buildings305 teachers have died from mesothelioma since 1980Teacher deaths are increasing (3 in 1980, 16 in 2011, 22 in 2012, 17 in 2013) Support Staff?How many pupils are dying as adults because of school exposure?Slide3
Why are children more at risk?In 2013 the Government’s Committee on Carcinogenicity ruled that children exposed to asbestos were more at risk of developing mesothelioma because of their greater life expectancy
Professor Julian Peto has estimated between 200 and 300 adults per year die because of childhood exposure at schoolSlide4Slide5
WW2 and WW1 gas masks
Majority contain asbestos – often blue (most dangerous)WW1 helmets also contain asbestosVintage gas masks should never be bought into schools or handled by staff or pupils – even if described as ‘safe’
HSE issued warning after JUAC pressure Safe replicas are available to purchase Slide6
Warm air cabinet heaters
Common in schools built during 1950s – 1980s Asbestos Insulating Board (AIB) was regularly used in their construction
Air sampling has confirmed that fibres can be released during usage and maintenance JUAC strongly recommends that schools remove all AIB from the heaters Slide7
Asbestos in schools campaign
Joint Union Asbestos Committee (JUAC)NUT, ATL, NASUWT, ASCL, NAHT, GMB, Unite, Unison, UCATT, Right to Know (Wales) Asbestos in Schools GroupCurrently chaired by Rachel Reeves MP Founded in 2007 by Michael Lees MBE
Wider membership than JUAC Both groups campaign to make schools safe from the dangers of asbestos. In the short term - effective management. Long term - all asbestos removed from schools, most dangerous first. Slide8
What have we achieved so far?Establishment and continuation of DfE
Asbestos in Schools Steering GroupDfE Review of Asbestos Policy for SchoolsRevised DfE Guidance for SchoolsDfE accountability questionnaire to head teachers
Advice on Gas Masks in SchoolsAdvice on warm air cabinet heaters in schoolsRisk Protection ArrangementSlide9
DfE accountability survey for heads
Launched end of Jan 2016 – ran for 2 months DfE did not give teacher unions advance notice of survey – despite previously saying they would Did not make survey compulsory –25% of schools responded 2% had serious issues 19% required further action
30% had opportunities to improve Plan to resurvey to check for improvements Slide10
Findings of March 2015 NUT Asbestos Survey44% of respondents had not been told whether their school contained asbestos
Of those who did know, 40% had not been told its locationMore than 80% said parents had not been given any information about asbestos presentOnly 15% of those who knew their school contained asbestos had seen the asbestos management planTwo-thirds were unaware of the dangers posed by vintage gas masksSlide11
Examples of Poor Management“A wall was removed by builders. It was discovered when they tried to dispose of the rubble. It meant the building was closed for a long time while specialist cleaned and disposed of everything affected.”
“The first I knew about it was when a caretaker came into my room with a pot and paintbrush and when I said “oh I didn’t know my room was being decorated” he answered “it’s not, I’m sealing the asbestos panels.””
“The door of my laboratory has an exposed asbestos lining. I stood at that door at the start and end of every lesson for ten years, greeting students before someone pointed out to me that the asbestos surface has been broken. Within a week the door was replaced and now all similar doors within the school have also been replaced. I can’t help but be concerned about this.”Slide12
Michael LeesSlide13
Sue Stevens
Please sign this important petition and share as widely as possible:https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/protect-our-children-and-teachers-from-asbestos-exposure-in-schools?state=sign
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The FutureContinue to hold the DfE to account
Focus on the impact of the full academisation of the English school systemContinue to raise awareness and ensure that school staff are told where the asbestos is in their school Slide15
JUAC Further Information
www.juac.org.uk https://twitter.com/TheJUAC
www.teachers.org.uk