78 Asbestos

Submitted by Association of Teachers and Lecturers

Congress expresses its grave and continuing concern that asbestos, the biggest and rising cause of workplace deaths, is a silent killer that remains in our schools and colleges. Because of this, children who are particularly vulnerable, as well as teachers and support staff, are being sentenced to an early death. This will continue into the indefinite future unless much tougher action is taken.

Congress welcomes the TUC’s partnership with teaching unions campaigning for the removal of all asbestos in educational establishments, and calls for:

i) an assessment to be made of the risk to the occupants

ii) a comprehensive audit of the extent, type and condition of asbestos in educational establishments, and the standards of management

iii) the Asbestos in Schools campaign to be reinstated

iv) training for those involved in asbestos management in schools, including headteachers, chairs of governors and other staff and governors with responsibility for health and safety

v) all asbestos in schools and colleges to be identified and removed in a phased programme to be completed by 2015, with asbestos in the most dangerous condition being removed first.