asbestos in schools
The number of women with asbestos related diseases is growing
After asbestos was banned in the UK in 1999 it was assumed that the number of people with an asbestos related disease would reach a peak and then start to decline. This still isn’t happening. One reason is that asbestos related diseases mostly affect older people. Life expectancy has increased by six years since 1990.…
Read MoreThe risks from asbestos in schools
At the beginning of this school term the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) began a series of inspections to see how schools are managing the risks from asbestos. Why the HSE has begun inspecting schools for asbestos exposure In July 2022 the HSE had acknowledged for the first time that people who work in schools…
Read MoreSix clues to knowing if your school contains asbestos
The Spanish website elEconomista.es has published a list of six simple clues to knowing if your school, or your children’s or grandchildren’s school, contains asbestos. It seemed such a good idea that we thought we would adapt it to our situation in England and Wales. The six clues Was the school built between 1950 and…
Read MoreAn asbestos register for a school is no use when people forget to look at it!
The government, and some non-governmental organisations, argue that it is safe to leave asbestos in schools and other public buildings, so long as there is a register of where the asbestos has been found. A case, brought to court by the Health and Safety Executive, shows this policy does not work. The school did have…
Read MoreRoy writes about the help he and his wife Lyn received from Asbestos Support Central England
Asbestos Support Central England (ASCE) helped my wife Lyn and I as we were trying to come to terms with the life-devastating diagnosis of Mesothelioma, an asbestos related cancer. At that point we were both less than rational. It was impossible for us to see the wood for the trees. Getting us the help we…
Read MoreMy wife, Lyn, was exposed to asbestos in school
On Action Meso Day, Roy from Worcestershire shares the story of his wife Lyn, who worked in a school laboratory for 19 years, where she was exposed to asbestos. He makes a powerful plea for ZeroAsbestos in schools. A report published today by JUAC, the Join Union Asbestos Committee, suggests that asbestos in schools is…
Read MoreLearning about Mesothelioma wasn’t what I meant when I decided to learn something new
Retired West Midlands teacher Bev found herself learning new lessons when she was diagnosed with mesothelioma My professional life was spent teaching. Three decades to be exact. On retiring, my aim was to become the pupil. Nothing highbrow; tips on how to improve my golf swing and some cultural toe-dipping in far flung places. There was little time…
Read MoreJoin us on Action Mesothelioma Day
ACTION MESOTHELIOMA DAY is a joint awareness raising event each year sponsored by Asbestos Support Groups, including the members of the Asbestos Victims Support Groups’ Forum, Medical Charities and other charities established by mesothelioma patients. There will be a short regional event on Zoom at 11 o’clock on Friday 2 July. The link is “ASCE’s…
Read MoreAsbestos is still present in 83% of schools!
Twenty years after asbestos was banned, the Department for Education estimates that it is still present in more than 83% of England’s schools. It isn’t just present in small amounts. The Joint Union Asbestos Committee (JUAC) estimates there are hundreds of tonnes of asbestos contained in schools and other public buildings. Children are especially vulnerable…
Read MoreJoin our campaign for #ZeroAsbestos in Schools and Public Buildings
#ZeroAsbestos Our main campaign at the moment is for zero asbestos, everywhere but especially in schools and other publicly owned buildings. Children are especially vulnerable to asbestos dust because their lungs are still developing but people who work in schools and other public buildings are also at risk. Please write to your MP We should…
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