Asbestos in Schools

There is a considerable body of legislation, associated regulations and guidance notes relating to the use of and the control of risks due to the presence of asbestos in buildings. To assist, the Council has drawn up an Asbestos Policy and Guidance which includes general information and the Council Policy. Section 5.3 covers the school’s responsibilities for the management of asbestos.

You can download and view a copy of the Asbestos Policy and Guidance documents from the Related Documents panel below.

The Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations place new responsibilities on duty holders to manage asbestos risks within their premises. Under normal circumstances in health and safety law, the duty holder is the employer. However, the asbestos regulation is slightly different in that the duty holder is defined as ‘anyone having a role for controlling the maintenance or repair of premises'. In schools, this is the head teacher.

The Asbestos Management Programme

As a result, of this health and safety legislation and to be better informed of Asbestos Containing Materials (ACMs) for future building projects, the Council is arranging and funding a level 2 survey of all schools.  Noble Asbestos Consultancy, in conjunction with Property Services is undertaking the programme of surveys, which should be completed by Summer 2006.

The programme is as follows:

• Nobles to undertake level 2 surveys of all schools
• Upload survey data into the Council’s Asbestos Management Database
• Survey reports to be produced from database, when required for building projects
• Priority Asbestos Removal programme to be formed from results of survey data if required
• Database kept up to date from re survey checks and information resulting from completed projects
• Repairs and Maintenance SLA to be formed to assist schools with their responsibilities.

Why are Asbestos Surveys Required?

The completion of an asbestos survey and the maintenance of the associated asbestos register information are an essential part of the management of asbestos within buildings.

An asbestos survey has three main elements:

• Firstly, it must as far is reasonably practicable locate and record the location and product type of any presumed or known asbestos-containing materials (ACMs)
• Secondly, it must inspect and record information on the accessibility, condition and surface treatment of any presumed or known ACMs
• Thirdly, it should determine and record the asbestos type, either by collecting representative samples of suspect materials for laboratory identification, or by making a presumption based on the product type and its appearance, etc...

The information gained from the survey will establish base asbestos register information. The asbestos survey is effectively a risk assessment and as such must be reviewed and revised at regular periods. The industry-standard programme for properties such as schools is that they should be re-visited and their Type 2 survey and asbestos register information be updated at 12 monthly intervals.  The condition of building stock will, over time, alter and deteriorate due to normal usage and unplanned misuse by the building users and others.  Without regular re-inspections, a building manager cannot rely on the validity of their asbestos register information.

The re-inspection will assess the current asbestos register and will update all relevant changes to the accessibility, condition and surface treatment of any presumed or known ACMs within the building.  Any high-risk situations identified will be highlighted to the relevant building manager for remedial action.

Where is asbestos likely to be found?

Examples of where you are likely to find Asbestos in schools are as follows:

• Ceiling Tiles
• Vinyl or Thermoplastic Floor Tiles
• Thermal Insulation of Pipes and Boilers
• Certain Textured Coatings
• Asbestos Cement Products
• Corrugated Roofing
• Wall Cladding
• Fire Protection in Ducts and Panels
• Gutters and Down Pipes

If you are in any doubt it is best to presume that a material contains asbestos unless there is strong evidence to suggest otherwise.

What should you do if you are planning to undertake repairs/building work at your school?

Schools were built when the use of Asbestos Containing Material (ACM) in their construction was prolific.  Personnel who carry out works on buildings could encounter asbestos.  Even small scale building repairs and decorations can cause damage to asbestos, if not carried out correctly.  Before you commission any work, you should check with your current asbestos register and your asbestos survey (when it is available). If there is a chance that the work will involve disturbing asbestos, please seek specialist advice before proceeding.

If you are unsure of how to proceed, or would like any help or advice on health and safety matters please contact the Policy & Planning Team.

What to do if you suspect asbestos has been disturbed

• Evacuate the area and prevent any further entry
• Report to the head of the establishment
• Seek advice from the Council's Asbestos Manager – Simon Wright 01803 402988
• It may be required to take samples and undertake air testing
• If the result is positive, a clean up and removal operation may need to be undertaken. The area may need to be sealed off until this has been completed
• Decontamination from asbestos is an expensive process. Some materials may not be able to be decontaminated (such as Computers/Carpets/Fabric Covered Chairs), in which case would need to be destroyed

Related Documents

Asbestos - Policy & Guidance

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