Asbestos in School Must be Eradicated
Posted: July 13, 2015
Posted in: Asbestos Exposure Industrial Deafness and Disease Mesothelioma School Accidents
A senior Union member has called for the government to eradicate asbestos from schools once and for all following a report into the conditions of education centres.
According to a report, asbestos remains present in 86% of schools leading to “unnecessary deaths”.
The National Union of Teachers has accused the Government of failing “to address the legacy of asbestos in schools” and said it is a “scandal” that the Government have failed to address the serious issue that affects teachers and young children.
Asbestos Illnesses
Statistics from the Health and Safety Executive showed that over 2,500 or serious illnesses are asbestos-related with some reports stating that exposure to asbestos kills between 300 or more each year. Sadly, due to the nature of asbestos illnesses, it is difficult to have exact numbers regarding the fatalities.
A 2013 study by the independent Committee on Carcinogenicity stated that the number of schools with asbestos still present was roughly around 75%.
Christine Blower, the general secretary of the National Union of Teachers, has said children are more at risk from being exposed to asbestos fibres, due to mesothelioma‘s long latency period. She said:
“It is time for Government to tackle the scourge of asbestos in schools.”
“Successive governments have failed to address the legacy of asbestos in schools, leading to unnecessary deaths of staff and former pupils.”
“Children are more at risk than adults from exposure to asbestos fibres, due to the long latency period for mesothelioma.“
Contact Us
Asbestos-related illnesses are common in the workplace and schools. If you have been exposed to asbestos through no fault of your own in your place of work, you will be able to make a claim. Contact us today using our online contact form.
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