Asbestos

19 February 2008

Commenting on recent reports on asbestos in schools, Steve Sinnott, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, Europe’s largest teachers’ union, said:

“The need for effective action to combat the dangers of asbestos is now more urgent than ever. Recent reports have revealed dangerous levels of asbestos in Clasp  schools and most recently a Brent school.

“The National Union of Teachers has been consistent in its campaign to ensure that all schools are safe to teach in. Teachers, school staff and children need to be in a safe learning environment, with no risk to their health or safety.

“Wednesday 20 February will see a meeting of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Asbestos.

“The National Union of Teachers has written to the All Party Parliamentary Group, highlighting the urgent need for progress. The Union has said:

‘There is now an urgent need for a strategic health and safety forum including employers, the DCSF and teacher and school staff organisations in order to address the issue of effective and adequate management of asbestos in all schools.  We ask, therefore, that the All Party Parliamentary Sub-Committee on Asbestos make strong representations to the DCSF, DWP and the Health & Safety Executive to ensure the speedy establishment of an effective and representative health and safety forum for the education sector.’”