The Joint Union Asbestos Campaign (JUAC) is today calling on the government to boost safety standards, by placing a requirement on local authorities to give parents and school workers an annual report of the asbestos risk in schools.
Although every year asbestos related mesothelioma* claims the lives of 16 UK teachers, and more than 70% of school buildings contain asbestos, the Health and Safety Executive policy has recently cut school inspections.
Schools will no longer be proactively inspected, even though the HSE’s know that a significant proportion of local authorities have serious flaws in the asbestos management systems, which they have a statutory duty to maintain.
Dave Prentis, UNISON General Secretary, said: