MOST SCHOOLS IN COV CONTAIN ASBESTOS
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST REVEALS 38 OF 57 SCHOOLS HAVE THE POTENTIALLY HARMFUL SUBSTANCE
TWO thirds of schools in Coventry contain potentially harmful asbestos.
A total of 38 of the 57 schools of which the council is responsible for (66 per cent) contain the substance, a Freedom of Information request sent by the Local Democracy Reporting Service has found.
Of this, 13 contain crocidolite, which is known as the most serious as it can puncture the lining of the lungs, causing long-lasting damage.
Shadow cabinet member for education Councillor Peter Male said the figures were concerning and wants a full council briefing on the issue.
He said: “I am surprised by the findings.
“A number of questions spring to mind. What is the level of threat to school children? Does the council have a clear plan to reduce the prevalence of asbestos in Coventry schools? If so, is this currently being implemented?
“I would also suggest that the council needs to offer reassurances to further groups, including parents, teaching staff and elected members, many of whom will be school governors and may well be unaware of the scale of the problem.
“To this end I will be requesting that elected members receive a full briefing from the Director of Education to ensure that the problem of asbestos is fully understood and that its potential threat to health is being taken seriously.
“As a Woodlands ward councillor, it is particularly concerning to discover that Eastern Green Junior School is one of the schools affected by the most serious variant of asbestos (crocidolite) and to this end I will be seeking particular reassurances.”
Asbestos gives off fine fibres which can be breathed in and remain in the lungs for long periods after exposure.
Their presence can lead to asbestos-related diseases, such as asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma.
Since 1980 at least 319 school teachers have died from mesothelioma, 205 of those since 2001, the National Education Union says.
Asbestos was banned in 1999 but was regularly used in construction until this date, with many system built schools using structural columns that were fire proofed with asbestos containing materials (ACMs).
However, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) says that if properly managed, asbestos presents a “very low risk” to people in school buildings.
A council spokesman added: “Some of our older schools do contain varying levels of asbestos.
“Asbestos was used extensively as a building product in the past, not just in schools - but in many buildings - and as long as it remains encapsulated and undisturbed it presents no risk.
“We carefully monitor all of our school buildings through our asbestos register and where asbestos does need to be removed or disturbed this is done carefully, under controlled conditions by specialist contractors.”
There are different types of asbestos which can have different effects on those in contact with the substance.
Crocidolite is one of the most harmful because its thin and brittle fibres can easily get lodged within the lungs.
Known as blue asbestos, its brittle nature means it easily breaks down, increasing the risk of exposure.
Chrysoltile is the most common form of the substance and is ideal for use in cement because of its flexibility.
Amosite has also been used in cement sheet production because of its strength. It is also commonly used to insulate plumbing and electrical installations because of its resistance to heat. This form of the substance carries a higher cancer risk than the others though all forms of the material are toxic. Coventry schools that contain chrysotile:
Allesley Hall Primary Allesley Primary Cannon Park Primary Coundon Primary Earlsdon Primary Eastern Green Junior Ernesford Grange Primary
Gosford Park Primary Grange Farm Primary Hillfields Early Years Centre
Hollyfast Primary John Gulson Primary John Shelton Community Primary Joseph Cash Primary Limbrick Wood Primary Little Heath Primary Longford Primary Manor Park Primary Mount Nod Primary Park Hill Primary Pearl Hyde Primary Potters Green primary Ravensdale Primary Southfields Primary Sowe Valley Primary Spon Gate Primary St Christopher Primary Stoke Primary Stoke Heath primary Templars Primary Whitley Abbey Primary Whoberley Hall Primary
Sherbourne Fields School
Tiverton School Baginton Fields School Woodfield
Corley Centre
St Andrews
All Saints
Schools that contain amosite:Allesley Hall Primary
Cannon Park Primary Coundon Primary Eastern Green Junior Ernesford Grange Primary
Grange Farm Primary Hillfields Early Years Centre
Hollyfast Primary John Gulson Primary Joseph Cash Primary Little Heath Primary
Manor Park Primary Mount Nod Primary Park Hill Primary Pearl Hyde Primary Potters Green primary Southfields Primary Sowe Valley Primary Spon Gate Primary St Christopher Primary Whitley Abbey Primary Sherbourne Fields School
Tiverton School Baginton Fields School Woodfield
Corley Centre
St Andrews
All Saints
Schools that contain crocidolite:
Allesley Hall Primary Cannon Park Primary Eastern Green Primary Ernesford Grange Primary
Hillfields Early Years
Centre
Joseph Cash Primary Potters Green primary St Christopher Primary Sherbourne Fields School Southfields Primary Stoke Primary Baginton Fields School Corley Centre