HSE Report Sheds Light On Issue

Calls for Doncaster Council to up its game in relation to the management of asbestos materials in schools have been backed by a lawyer.

Adrian Budgen of Irwin Mitchell commented after the local authority became one of just ten in England to be given an improvement notice by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) on the issue.

It has been revealed that a lack of management plans and training was identified during an assessment of Doncaster Council’s systems.

Adrian Budgen, who has dealt with a large number of cases linked to asbestos-related diseases such as mesothelioma in the past 20 years, welcomed the recent work by the HSE to raise awareness of the issue.

The Asbestos in Schools campaign group member said: “The publication of the HSE report on ‘system built’ schools (21 September 2010) highlights the need for better asbestos management.

“Although the HSE press release asserts that the majority of local authorities are complying with official guidance, it also shows that a significant number are not managing their asbestos effectively, with a quarter of the 42 inspected requiring enforcement action to be taken through the issuing of 10 improvement notices and one prohibition notice.

“This underlines the urgent need for all the schools and authorities in the country, which are not adequately protecting their occupants from the dangers of asbestos, to be identified and then brought up to a safe standard.”