Asbestos Management

It was only in 2000 that its use was banned in UK buildings, but it's believed that it currently remains in 75% of schools.

Asbestos only creates a health risk when it's disturbed and asbestos fibres become airborne.  It may be disturbed when maintenance and refurbishment work is undertaken on old school buildings as they start to decay.

But is enough being done to protect children and teachers from being exposed to asbestos? 

Teachers say it isn't sufficient to take action only after asbestos could become harmful. In the last 25 years at least 178 teachers have died from mesothelioma.

Their concern is understandable when asbestos can be disturbed by simply pushing drawing pins into a wall – it's thought a single drawing pin can release 6,000 fibres. Mesothelioma, an asbestos related cancer, can be caused by exposure to just one fibre.