FOI request shows lack of asbestos management in schools

FOI request shows lack of asbestos management in schools

The Joint Union Asbestos Committee (JUAC) has released figures which show that asbestos is not being managed enough across schools.

The data which was acquired through a Freedom of Information request, shows that there have been 54 reported exposure incidents in academies.

This includes asbestos found in the ceiling of an IT suite; disturbed suspected asbestos following the removal of toilets in a children centre; and asbestos found while digging out a new car park.

According to the National Education Union (NEU), these findings are likely to be a “significant underestimate” as not all MATs responded to the request, some refused to provide the information or provided incomplete responses.

It has also been revealed that some MATs did not have asbestos management plans in place.

Commenting on the findings, Rachel Reeves MP, chair of the Asbestos in Schools Group said: "The government's failure to get a grip of this issue is putting children and teaching staff at needless risk.

“These latest findings show that many schools are unaware of the risk or the extent of asbestos in our schools.

“The government needs to come up with a clear strategy to ensure any potential exposure to asbestos is minimised and that staff and pupils are kept safe. Parents and teachers have been left in the dark for too long about the extent of the problem.

“Labour committed to a phased removal of asbestos in schools in our 2017 manifesto. How many more teachers and pupils' lives have to be put in jeopardy before the government commits to tackling this ticking time bomb?”

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