Mesothelioma and Asbestos News

ASBESTOS IN 200 SCHOOLS

Published on 07/10/2006

‘No danger’: Trinity School’s asbestos does not pose a threat to public health

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By Kelly Eve

ALMOST 200 schools in Cumbria contain asbestos, the county council has confirmed.

Surveys carried out over the last three years on schools run by the local education authority confirm only a small number are asbestos free. Those certain to be clear of the substance would have to be under 10 years old.

Health and safety manager Kym Allan has said there is no danger to children, parents and staff in any of the schools adding that asbestos only becomes dangerous once it is damaged.

If damaged, fibres can get into the air and be inhaled. If inhaled, the asbestos fibres can cause cancers of the lungs and chest walls which can take many years to develop.

Details have emerged after Carlisle’s largest school, Trinity, this week sealed off asbestos-lagged heating ducts in two of its oldest buildings – Creighton and Margaret Sewell.

The buildings are used by pupils aged 11-16 years and for adult education classes.

The school, which has 1,884 pupils, had a detailed survey carried out in the first two weeks of August to identify exactly where asbestos was located. It is now addressing the issue.

Three classroom doors containing fibres were immediately replaced and there is restricted access to a boiler room.

Asbestos in the boiler room will be removed during the October half-term thanks to a £15,000 grant.

Meanwhile plastic manhole-like covers have sealed off the original 1930s and now unused heating ducts in Creighton and Margaret Sewell corridors.

There are three types of asbestos – white, brown and blue – but it is not known which type the pipes contain because they remain intact.

Signs have been stuck on the covers warning people not to lift them without contacting the site manager.

Headteacher Alan Mottershead said the signs are intended for contractors who may work on the site in future.

In every case the asbestos has not been disturbed and does not currently pose any threat to public health.

Parents of one 13-year-old boy contacted the News & Star concerned that they had not been informed about the signs until their son came home asking what asbestos was.

Headteacher Mr Mottershead said: “There is no need to be concerned. I did not feel it was necessary to inform parents. It is a safe environment for all staff and pupils. The warning signs are for contractors if they are coming on site.

“We are an approachable school and parents can talk to us. No parents have called me about this.”

School bursar Stephen Higgs said: “We have always known it is there but it has never posed a problem. It is not a problem when it is under the floor providing no-one lifts the covers. These are sealed down and need special keys to unlock them.

“We are waiting to see what the results of the Carlisle school reorganisation options will be and then we will have an opportunity to deal with it.”

He added that it was best to tell people where asbestos was so everyone was aware of the situation rather than pretend it was not there.

Trinity School has been working closely with Cumbria County Council’s health and safety unit to ensure they adhere to all safety requirements.

Kym Allan is the county council’s manager of health and safety in schools.

She said: “Most of the school buildings [which have asbestos] are in use all the time and it is controlled and managed. Our buildings are kept in a general state of repair too.

“All had a ‘type 1’ assessment in 1998 and the type 2 has been carried out more recently, an ongoing process of around 200 in the last three years.

“We have a central register and we know what is in schools. Some have chosen not to put stickers and signs up but the details are in the register.

“Some have put the labels on the underside of such covers so if a contractor lifts them up they can see, but that in turn could disturb what is underneath.

“Trinity has chosen to put them on the top. Some people have seen them but it is not a danger to the public and it is an inspection chamber which has been sealed.”

The World Health Organisation says that on average each person inhales more than 7,000 asbestos fibres each year.

KEve@cngroup.co.uk