Health and Safety at Work - Asbestos
Asbestos Exposure Questionnaire
NASUWT is undertaking a process to identify and record information about members’ asbestos exposure. The issue of asbestos in schools is of great interest to many of our members. Asbestos containing materials are likely to be present in all schools built before 1999. Over 75% of schools in the UK are known to contain asbestos. Common uses of asbestos in school buildings include ceiling panels and tiles, insulation boards, partition walls, heater cupboards, roof sheeting, gutters and insulating jackets for water tanks and boilers.
The purpose of this questionnaire is to collect information about where there may have been exposure to asbestos in order to update our database of information and factual records. Therefore if you know or suspect you have been exposed to asbestos in the course of your employment you should complete this form and return it to the address at the end of this questionnaire.
It is important to remember that not everyone who has been exposed to asbestos develops an asbestos related disease. However, for those who do develop a disease, the effects can be devastating. By recording information about asbestos exposure on a permanent and structured database for all those members who know or suspect that they have been exposed to asbestos, NASUWT aims to assist any future claims for compensation. The information you provide may help not only you but possibly other members and their families.
We would ask all members who know or suspect that they have been exposed to asbestos in their current or former employment, no matter how long ago, to complete this questionnaire.
Asbestos Advice Leaflets
In the 'Resources' section below on the right-hand side of this page, you will find the following health and safety leaflets providing advice on asbestos in the workplace.
Asbestos in the Workplace
This leaflet provides essential information for governors, school leaders and staff in schools and colleges relating to asbestos.
Asbestos in the Workplace: Advice for Representatives
This leaflet provides information and advice for NASUWT Representatives on the issue of asbestos in schools, colleges and other buildings in which NASUWT members work that were built or refurbished between 1945 and 2000. It aims to enable NASUWT Representatives to ensure that schools, colleges and other educational settings properly manage the problem of asbestos in buildings on a strategic level and comply with their statutory obligations.
Asbestos in the Workplace: Briefing for Local Secretaries
This briefing contains advice to NASUWT Local and Negotiating Secretaries and addresses the issue of potential asbestos fibre release in schools, colleges and other buildings built or refurbished between 1945 and 2000 in which NASUWT members work.
Asbestos - Latest News
The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 (new window) came into force on 6 April 2012. The regulations revoke and replace the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 (new window). The new Regulations are most relevant to workers, such as caretakers in schools and maintenance workers, who may undertake some types of low-risk short-duration work with asbestos containing materials. They retain the core duties imposed by the previous Regulations and consolidate the existing asbestos legislation with some modifications that require employers to:
- notify the relevant enforcing authority of some types of low-risk short-duration work;
- carry out worker medical examinations; and
- maintain a register for each worker of the type and duration of work done with asbestos.
School closures highlight asbestos risk - March 2012
The importance of effectively tackling the issue of asbestos in schools has been underlined by its discovery in two schools in the past week.
Government rejects calls for asbestos action in schools - March 2012
The Government has rejected calls from MPs for urgent action to ensure staff and pupils are protected from asbestos in schools.
'National scandal' of asbestos in schools - February 2012
An all-party group is calling for national programme of asbestos removal from schools after studying estimates which suggest it is present in more than 75% of state schools.
One in six schools failing to meet asbestos standards - October 2011
One in six schools outside of local authority control are failing to adequately manage asbestos, according to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
Asbestos report call - July 2011
Teachers and parents should be given an annual report of the asbestos risk in schools, a coalition of trade unions, including the NASUWT, has argued.
