Deaths in UK schools - Fear over Asbestos 'tsunami'

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A new report has claimed that hundreds of thousands of people will die from asbestos exposure in UK schools after the ‘hidden killer’ still remains in public buildings.

According to statistics, at least 1,400 teachers and support staff, and 12,600 pupils have died from mesothelioma (an aggressive lung cancer caused by inhaling asbestos fibres) since 1980.

However, this already large number is expected to grow across the next 20 to 60 years as crumbing schools and poor maintenance exposes more children and school workers to the deadly material.

Deaths in UK schools

The Joint Union Asbestos Committee (JUAC) report, produced after an investigation by eight unions representing heads, teachers and support staff, states: ‘Hundreds of thousands of students and staff, exposed to asbestos in their schools since the mid-1990s, are predicted to die from mesothelioma.’

‘Crucially, the evidence in this report suggests that [asbestos] is likely to be a tsunami in the UK. Their deaths would be the consequence of ineffective asbestos regulations and a cost-cutting culture that wrongly implies “asbestos is safe so long as it is not disturbed”.’

At present, the guidance is to leave asbestos undisturbed unless it is visibly damaged. However, the Daily Mail is now campaigning to the government change this.

Liz Darlison, CEO of the charity Mesothelioma UK, said the issue is a ‘national disgrace’.

She added:

“The ongoing presence of asbestos in our deteriorating school buildings is like a bomb that is slowly exploding.

‘It’s an unbelievable tragedy and a national disgrace that we are not doing more to protect people, especially children.”

The Joint Union Asbestos Committee (JUAC) states that it is estimated that around 83 per cent of schools contain asbestos, all of it old and much of it deteriorating. Unless a school or college was built after 1999, it is extremely likely that it contains asbestos.

But concerns have been raised around the management of asbestos in public and educational buildings. “Exposure incidents occur regularly, sometimes leading to prosecutions, but we are also concerned about long-term, low-level exposure which may not be noticed,” The Joint Union Asbestos Committee (JUAC) said.

Liam Hill, Deputy Head of Industrial Disease at Oakwood Solicitors Ltd said:

“‘Asbestos being in the very walls our children learn in has been an ongoing issue for many years. The reality is that if the asbestos is undisturbed, it is usually safe to be around.

“However, these building containing asbestos are now considered old and are in various state of disrepair meaning that the risk of being exposed to asbestos dust and fibres grows the longer these buildings are left to deteriorate.

“The other problem is you cannot always see the damage to asbestos building materials meaning that you might think it is safe when it isn’t and it is then potentially harming all those around it.

“The way these schools have been left in this way is nothing short a disaster waiting to happen. There is no cure for the position many children and teaching staff are in other than spending on schools and other public buildings to make them safe for those using them.”

Asbestos – Why is it dangerous?

According to HSE, asbestos exposure is the greatest cause of work-related deaths in Great Britain, and around 5000 people die every year from asbestos-related diseases.

However, these diseases typically take decades to develop, which means they can take years to be diagnosed, and they cannot be cured.

HSE explains that when asbestos is left alone and in good condition, the risk of danger is low. However, once asbestos is disturbed, fibres can be released and if they are breathed in, they can cause fatal diseases such as lung disease and cancer.

You cannot see, smell or feel the asbestos fibres in the air or on your clothes, so you do not know asbestos is there.

What is asbestos?

Asbestos is a naturally occurring material that is present in soil and rock and was often used in construction and building up until the 1990s. However, it was later found that asbestos exposure can cause fatal lung conditions such as mesothelioma, which led to its ban.

Asbestos comes from mines across the world including Russia, Kazakhstan, Brazil and China. The naturally occurring mineral is made up of heat-resistant fibres and there are three main types commonly found in the UK – brown, white and blue.

Between the 1930s and the 1980s, it was mixed into cement, roofing felt, texture walls, ceiling coverings and floor tiles, and used on roofs, gutters and window seals and to lag or insulate boilers and pipes.

There are many buildings still standing today which contain asbestos and could pose a health risk if the material is disturbed.

What does asbestos look like?

Asbestos can have different appearances depending on how it’s used and its form.

Raw asbestos

In its raw form, asbestos often looks like a fibrous mineral with a whitish, greyish, or bluish-green colour. It can appear as thin, needle-like fibres or as bundles of fibres.

Asbestos-containing materials (ACMs)

Asbestos was commonly used in various building materials, so it might be found in different forms such as:

Asbestos cement: This material, often used in roofing, siding, and pipes, may look like ordinary cement but with fibres embedded in it.
Asbestos insulation: In buildings, asbestos insulation might appear as fluffy or fibrous material inside walls, ceilings, or around pipes.
Asbestos tiles: Asbestos-containing floor tiles can resemble vinyl tiles but may have a distinctive fibrous appearance on closer inspection.
Asbestos cloth or fabric: This might look like regular cloth but with a fibrous texture. It was commonly used in protective clothing and insulation.

When was asbestos banned in the UK?

Asbestos was fully banned in the UK in November 1999. This was when it was made illegal to buy, sell, import or export any asbestos-containing materials.

However, the import and use of blue (Crocidolite) and brown (Amosite) asbestos was banned in the UK more than a decade before in 1985. All six types of asbestos can be deadly if you are exposed.

Asbestos disposal

Asbestos is hazardous when disturbed, as it releases microscopic fibres into the air that can be inhaled and cause serious health issues, including lung cancer and mesothelioma.

Therefore, it’s crucial to handle any suspected asbestos-containing materials with caution and seek professional assistance for proper identification and safe removal.

The Health and Safety Executive issues guidance on asbestos regulations, including when you need to use a licensed specially trained contractor to remove the hazardous material.

Symptoms of asbestos exposure

According to the NHS, symptoms of asbestos exposure include the following:

Shortness of breath
Persistent cough
Wheezing
Extreme tiredness (fatigue)
Pain in your chest or shoulder
In more advanced cases, clubbed (swollen) fingertips

However, it can take 20 to 30 years after being exposed to asbestos before symptoms appear, and sometimes there are no symptoms.

How to make a claim

If you have read the above and feel that you may be suffering from any of the symptoms whilst exposed to substances at work or school, call Oakwood Solicitors to speak to a member of our dedicated Industrial Disease team.

Asbestos guidance

The HSE website issues guidance on how to handle asbestos.

Asbestos: Fear of ‘tsunami’ of deaths in UK schools