Teaching assistant urges government to remove asbestos from schools after being diagnosed with Mesothelioma

A former teaching assistant, who has been diagnosed with an asbestos-related cancer, is urging the government to do more to ensure that the deadly material is removed from schools.

In 2020, Wendy Gregory, 68 was given a year to live after being exposed to mesothelioma and suffering from the incurable cancer.

According to reports, she was a volunteer and teaching assistant at a primary school in Kent between the 1980s and 90s – and her lawyers allege the cancer was caused by asbestos exposure during this role.

An out-of-court case was settled, and although the council didn’t accept liability, asbestos-based panels behind a heater in a mobile classroom where she worked were found.

She is now urging for more to be done to remove asbestos from schools to protect children and staff.

Ms. Gregory told iNews that it is “absolutely devastating” that asbestos continues to be present in schools, which has caused the death ‘of hundreds of school workers’. She is now urging the next government to act on this and ensure all asbestos materials are removed from education settings.

She told iNews:

“I was exposed at some point by something in that school and surrounded by children, which means that they must be exposed as well. Morally, I don’t understand how things can be left as they are.

“There ought to be a planned approach to removing the asbestos. For there to even be one chance of someone breathing in the dust is bad enough.”

According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Asbestos is the biggest cause of work-related deaths in the UK, with around 5,000 UK workers a year dying from asbestos-related diseases including mesothelioma.

Meanwhile, in 2017, a Department for Education report was published that found 83 per cent of England state schools reported that asbestos was present in their estate.

This poses a risk for children, teachers and other staff such as caretakers onsite. Other organisations, including the British Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS), Asbestos victims’ groups, Mesothelioma UK, and education unions are calling on the next government to take action and set a deadline for the complete removal of asbestos from all schools.

Liz Darlison, the chief executive of charity Mesothelioma UK, said:

“We have demonstrated that the incidence of the disease amongst school and health workers is far higher than reported.

“Clearly, management of asbestos in situ isn’t working for a variety of reasons. Not least because what is assessed as safe on the day of inspection can change immediately in a high throughput environment.”

Concerningly, data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows that 371 teaching and education professionals died from mesothelioma from 2010 to 2020.

What is asbestos?

Asbestos is a naturally occurring material that is present in soil and rocks. It was commonly used in building and construction due to its strong durability such as fire and heat and water resistance.

However, it was later found that inhaling the materials can cause fatal lung diseases and other health conditions and it was banned in the UK among other countries.

What does asbestos look like?

Asbestos fibres in their natural form are long and thin and usually appear as blue, brown or white under a microscope. They will also crumble or powder easily if disturbed. However, asbestos fibres are so small, that once they have been disturbed and enter the atmosphere, they will not be visible to the naked eye.

Asbestos was also used in building materials, such as insulation, concrete wall paint and ceilings – making it extremely hard to spot. The best way to identify asbestos is by thinking about the age of a building and if any work was done during this time.

Asbestos was commonly used between the 1950s and 1990s in the UK. If you are concerned that your home was built during this time, or had building work done, such as new loft insulation, you should consult a professional to conduct an asbestos test on your home.

When was asbestos banned?

Asbestos was fully banned in the UK in November 1999. This made it illegal to buy, sell, import or export any asbestos-containing materials. Before the full ban, blue and brown asbestos was banned in 1985, while white asbestos was used until the 1990s.

How to identify asbestos

Asbestos can be hard to identify as it was commonly used within building materials such as wall paint, cement and insulation. However, if you suspect your home contains asbestos, you should consult a professional to conduct a test.

How dangerous is asbestos?

If asbestos-containing materials are damaged or disturbed, it can cause the toxic fibres to be released into the air. This becomes dangerous as the particles can become suspended in the air, and people can inhale them without realising.

The issues occur as the toxic fibres can get stuck in the lungs, and cause damage over time.

Asbestos exposure can cause fatal illnesses such as incurable lung cancers, and mesothelioma. It is also the case that symptoms often don’t occur until decades after the exposure, meaning that is often too late to treat as it is often diagnosed in advanced stages.

There are currently around 2,500 deaths from mesothelioma each year in the UK. This number is expected to drop in the future because asbestos was banned in 1999.

How to get rid of asbestos

Asbestos may be present in any house or building built before the year 2000, as it was widely used in a variety of building materials.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) does not recommend the DIY removal of asbestos without advice. If you find any asbestos which requires removal, you should contact your local council for more information about asbestos and its disposal.

Further reading

Mesothelioma claims – Oakwood Solicitors

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