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Silent killer in our classrooms
TEACHERS in Fylde schools have been told not to put children's work up on walls – amid fears it could release deadly asbestos into the air.
It comes as school bosses in Blackpool were studying results of a survey to find which schools still had the deadly dust.
A total of 145 teachers and other child workers died of mesothelioma between 1991 and 2000 in the UK – half of which were primary and secondary school teachers.
Others are now seeking compensation after getting cancers from
asbestos.
Ken Cridland, Fylde secretary of the National Union of Teachers (NUT) which issued to warning to its 1,700 members on the Fylde coast, said today: "By sticking drawing pins in walls, or using staple guns, it can break the seal releasing the fibres into the air.
"The warning has come as a shock to a lot of teachers. They don't realise the danger. The long-term effect is very frightening, especially with the amount of old schools in Blackpool and Lancashire.
"With a lot of teachers, it is only diagnosed 20 years later.
"If that is the case, what about all the children that have also been exposed? It is quite scary."
Nick Subasic, health and safety officer for Lancashire NUT, said: "Asbestos is safe until it is released and that can be done with drawing pins. The problem is that no-one knows where it is exactly.
"It tends to be in older schools built in the 1960s. It is a serious concern and comes up on our agenda regularly."
Asbestos was widely used in constructing schools around 50 years ago but vandalism and poor maintenance has been blamed for putting schools at risk.
Every year, 3,000 people die of asbestos-related diseases – but the figure is expected to rise to 10,000 a year by 2015.
Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre schools have a history of asbestos-related incidents.
n August 2005: Blackpool Council fined 15,000 after workers were exposed to asbestos while carrying out work at St Cuthbert's Primary School. It was also warned about asbestos at Palatine High and Moor Park Primary and weas handed an Improvement Notice for both schools.
n November 2003: Fire crews decontaminated after tackling a blaze at Blackpool and The Fylde College's St Annes campus when part of the asbestos-riddled roof caught fire.
n July 2002: Hodgson High in Poulton was forced to close when asbestos was found in classroom heaters.
One Blackpool headteacher today called for more information to hammer home the dangers to his staff.
Graeme Dow, Revoe Primary head, said: "This is not something we have been told about but, if it is that serious that teachers have suffered then I would like to know more. All Blackpool schools have had everything checked in the last year so I would be surprised if there is asbestos anywhere in the school.
"But if there has been a problem historically then this is something we should be talking about."
Richard Redcliffe, headteacher at Ansdell Primary, said: "The idea teachers have been affected is news to me but I am not surprised more people are being affected by asbestosis in a range of environments.
"Years ago I remember being warned of lung problems cause by the clouds of chalk dust teachers had to work in every day."
Kevin Walkin, head of asbestos policy at the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), said: "Pinning work to walls or ceilings containing asbestos may release asbestos fibres. Such activities are avoidable and must stop."
A Blackpool Council spokeswoman said: "The council places great importance on monitoring and maintaining the safety of its schools and as a result has just carried out a thorough Type 2 survey of our primary and secondary schools.
"We are currently collating the wealth of data so it's premature to give a full picture of the outcomes at this moment in time. But we can stress that all the priority cases of asbestos have been dealt with, or are currently being addressed.
"We always follow to the letter the guidance of the HSE and change our monitoring and evaluation procedures to reflect the evolving changes in the law."
A spokesman for Lancashire County Council, which is in charge of schools in Fylde and Wyre, said: "All of our schools have had a stringent asbestos survey carried out. The schools have access to these surveys and are required to bring the surveys to the attention of any contractors they employ to carry out work."
heather.butler@blackpoolgazette.co.uk
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Monday 13 February 2012
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