Following a recent study highlighting the failure to safely manage asbestos in over 1000 English schools the Government has taken action and have issued new safety guidelines aimed at head teachers, school staff, duty-holders and governing bodies.
These are titled ‘Managing asbestos in your school’ and ‘Where asbestos may be located’.
The guidelines apply to local authority schools, free schools and academies.
Each of the reports offers advice on how to identify asbestos, how to assess the risks and how to manage it in schools.
The Guidance comprises 5 steps:
- You must have a management survey of asbestos containing materials (ACMs) in your school which should be conducted by a United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) accredited surveying organisation and in accordance with HSE guidance.
- Assess the risks associated with ACMs in your school. This must be done for
- Devise an Asbestos Management Plan (AMP) to include details of arrangements to inform all staff about the location of ACMs and the schedule for monitoring the condition of ACMs.
- Make sure staff, visitors and contractors know the risks and precautions they need to take, including the risks of pinning children’s work to walls.
- Keep the management of asbestos in your school under review with updates of damage to asbestos and work undertaken to ACMs.
Download copies of the guidance here: Asbestos management in schools – GOV.UK
