Calls For Government To Commit To Asbestos In Schools Removal Timeline
Despite asbestos being banned in the UK for decades, each year we see so many families still being torn apart by asbestos-related diseases which are often aggressive and cause much distress for those affected.
The latest report by the All Party Parliamentary Group for Occupational Safety and Health, titled The Legacy of Cape Plc and the Case for Justice, calls on the government to begin a safe asbestos removal programme. The report also sets out other recommendations as to how the Government can better manage the issue of asbestos.
At Irwin Mitchell, we’ve been calling for this for some time. Asbestos is still very prevalent in public buildings such as town halls and schools and many people have been needlessly exposed for far too long.
Our own report in 2023 estimated that there could be 87,000 buildings containing asbestos across England Scotland and Wales. If this asbestos is disturbed or is not properly managed, exposure can potentially cause illnesses such as mesothelioma which is a cancer of the lining of the lungs or abdomen.
Most people associate asbestos with historical exposure in factories or construction work, but these latest figures highlight the extensive risk still posed by the deadly substance across the UK in everyday buildings used by the public.
Sadly, we come across families and individuals affected by asbestos most often after coming into contact with it in their workplace, and to have it confirmed that it’s not yet been eradicated from a large number of public buildings is incredibly concerning.
One of the main problem areas is revealed to be schools, which are obviously densely populated with pupils, teachers and other school workers for long hours at a time. It’s extremely worrying that so many still contain asbestos, as many as 8 in 10, essentially putting children at risk every day.
Whilst some of the asbestos may not yet be deemed harmful, once it’s disturbed or in a state of disrepair it can quickly become very dangerous, and with many of our public buildings being old and maintenance budgets being stretched, it’s a huge concern.
It’s imperative that the Government commits to setting out a plan and timeframe for the safe removal of asbestos in our public buildings.
Read more about our expertise in asbestos and mesothelioma related claims.
