Continuing on from the inroads made in 2024, HSE are continuing their campaign to reduce the harm caused by asbestos in schools.
Despite HSE inspections showing that most schools are complying with their legal duties and managing Asbestos effectively, it has been noted that there are some common areas where improvements in management systems can still be made, by:
- Ensuring that organisations and their workforces have clearly defined roles and responsibilities to manage Asbestos where it is on-site, with an Asbestos Management Plan clearly depicting who deputises, or how absences will be covered;
- Ensuring that when a contractor tenders for work the tender includes details of their safe system of work and that they will work to a permit-to-work, which will be put in place;
- Including within the Management Plan how emergency services attending the site will be informed of Asbestos content – where relevant;
- Making sure that where possible, photographic evidence of ACMs is included in the Asbestos register, to not only identify the location but to continue to monitor their condition and be able to make comparisons to determine any deterioration of condition;
- Ensuring that any worker carrying out maintenance work near Asbestos has a method statement (plan of work);
- Ensuring all relevant workers (be they in-house staff or contractors) are in possession of appropriate Asbestos training before they are allowed to work with it.
These are not new issues (see the HSE 2022 – 2023 report into asbestos management in schools), but an indicator that there is still not enough being done to remove the risk of harm from our education centres.
The Department of Education has also updated its guidance
It provides clear information on duties for managing asbestos and provides resources for those responsible for maintaining school and college buildings. While the guidance is aimed at schools in England, it does contain useful information for schools and colleges across Great Britain. The full guidance can be found here.
HSE will be continuing its inspection regimen for schools across Great Britain (England, Wales, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man) throughout 2025 and into 2026.
Global Asbestos Awareness Week
As we approach Global Asbestos Awareness Week (April 1 – 7), the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is reminding businesses occupying buildings built before 2000 to properly assess, manage and monitor asbestos risks in line with the law.
With this in mind, our guidance ‘Asbestos – Control and Management’, and our document ‘Asbestos Management Plan’, can both be found on the Health and Safety section of our Portal.
We also offer ‘Asbestos – Awareness’ and ‘Asbestos – Management’ training. Please click here to view the details in our Health and Safety training brochure.
To ensure your business does not fall foul of Health and Safety law in 2025:
- Conduct risk assessments as and when required (prior to undertaking activities)
- Provide training regarding the risks involved and how to manage them.
- Supervise risk management, as necessary, until competence is demonstrated
- Formally review risk assessments and associated safe systems of work, regularly
- Update training provided (toolbox talks, in-house or external formal training)
- Keep / update records of all the above processes.
If you need help with the topics raised in this newsletter or another Health & Safety related issue, please do not hesitate to contact us.