Asbestos Forces Schools Closures In Wales And N Ireland

With the news reported previously by Unionsafety that Canada ’s asbestos mine, Jeffrey Mine, is being starved of the Canadian Government’s grant and will therefore not be re-opening; also comes the details of the closure of two schools, one in Northern Ireland and the other in Wales, earlier this week due to the discovery of deadly asbestos.
 
One of the UK’s major solicitors representing asbestos victims, Thompsons, says it is well aware that asbestos is still rife in schools the length and breadth of the country with an estimated 75 per cent of schools in Britain thought to contain asbestos.

Greg Whyte from Thompsons  in their press release of today 17th October, commenting upon the school closures writing:

‘The revelations that almost 900 schools in Northern Ireland and a similar number in Wales contain asbestos are no surprise given the age of these schools and the prevalence of asbestos as a building material in the right up until the 1980s.
 
The more worrying aspect is that school boards, restricted by tight budgets, are unable to do anything about the asbestos – instead forced to toe the party line; by insisting that asbestos is only harmful if disturbed. It is commonly believed that if asbestos is left undisturbed it can be managed to prevent it causing any harm to health.’
 
With campaigners in Wales re-iterating calls made by Trade Unions across the UK for a central register to identify where asbestos is present so it can be effectively monitored; the lack of government action is both immorally and financially bankrupt.

Recent Government reports, the latter being published in February this year have exposed the lack of recognition and management of the ticking time bomb that Asbestos in the country’s schools poses for our children. Further, the HSE has been forced to withdraw its previous advice that Asbestos is safe unless it is disturbed.

Parents and relatives across the country, as well as teachers, and all those working in schools in the UK need now to take action and lobby their MP’s about the appalling state of so many UK schools which make education establishments a serious risk to their children’s health.

See also:

HSE Guidance And Recommendations For Asbestos In Schools Controversy Continues

Parliamentary Safety Group Calls For Urgent Action On Asbestos In Schools

Source: Thompsons / Unionsafety

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