Asbestos management regulations:

The Health and Safety Executive announced its intention in 2023 to check how schools are complying with asbestos management regulations. But what does this mean for educational institutions? Here’s how to comply with tips from a recent project case study.

Asbestos, once a common material in school construction, was banned in 1999 due to its associated health risks. However, schools built before 2000 may still have asbestos present, often unbeknownst to teachers and staff. This is a significant issue, as Department of Education research indicates asbestos is present in four out of five schools.

Since the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) revealed its intention to check how schools are complying with asbestos management, what can schools do to prepare for HSE visits and ensure compliance?

• Schools must appoint a ‘duty holder’ responsible for providing information and training to staff and contractors who might disturb asbestos.

• An up-to-date asbestos register should be maintained, detailing the location and condition of any asbestos.

• An asbestos management plan should be in place, outlining roles, responsibilities, safe work practices, and procedures if asbestos is accidentally disturbed.

Non-compliance can result in fines

Remember, managing asbestos is not just about protecting staff and students. Non-compliance can result in substantial fines. The past five years have witnessed more than 90 incidents of asbestos exposure in schools, with successful prosecutions leading to hefty financial penalties.

Some notable cases in recent times include a non-compliant primary school which resulted in a county council being fined over £200,000, a large secondary school being fined over £46,000 plus an additional £20,000 in fees, and contractors being fined a total of £1.2 million after workers were potentially exposed to asbestos while refurbishing a school in east London.

Seek support from expert services

It might sound daunting, but remember, there’s support available. The Department of Education (DoE) has guides and checklists, and expert services like ours at John Rowan and Partners can help manage this complex responsibility.

We offer support in identifying the duty holder, assessing existing registers and management plans, and providing UKATA-accredited training. We can also help schools create these documents if they don’t exist or need updates.

Following a re-inspection of the ACMs by our sister company Nifes Consulting Group, the Thomas Gainsborough School took the proactive decision to update their asbestos management plan with John Rowan and Partners.

A change in school status

The review conducted by our team revealed that the existing asbestos management plan at Thomas Gainsborough School lacked detail and did not account for significant changes that had occurred since its creation. This included the implications of the school’s transition from local authority ownership to an academy trust.

The recent move to an academy trust resulted in the ‘Duty Holder’ shifting from the local authority to the headteacher of the school, which meant that the school now had greater responsibility for managing any asbestos within the school.

Achieving compliance

John Rowan and Partners worked with the premises manager at Thomas