Of the 33,600 schools in Britain, more than 75 per cent contain asbestos. Due to this worrying statistic, the HSE will be carrying out a programme of inspections to primary and secondary schools in England, Scotland and Wales from September 2022 onwards.
The inspections will be assessing how schools are managing the risks from asbestos and meeting the ‘duty to manage’ (DTM) requirements under Regulation 4 of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 (CAR). The regulations place duties on those with responsibility for the maintenance of work premises, including schools, to manage the risk from asbestos. For the majority of schools, this will be the employer.
Who will be carrying out the inspections?
The visits will be carried out by HSE inspectors, who will contact the school before visiting to arrange a suitable date and time for the inspection. They will need to speak to someone with knowledge of how asbestos is managed by the school and may also ask to see certain documentation e.g. your asbestos register and management plan.
What should schools do to prepare for these inspections?
Schools may wish to review their current arrangements in advance and check that they are meeting their duties. For example: Take reasonable steps to find out if there are asbestos containing materials in the school and if so, the amount, where it is and what condition it is in.
What can we do to help?
With vast experience in many school settings across the country, we can help you prepare for the inspections by reviewing your current management of asbestos and checking your school’s compliance. We offer bespoke services tailored to your schools needs such as:
Our specialist asbestos management team can help you manage your asbestos risks providing asbestos management plans documentation, control systems, and more.
Our qualified and experienced, Project Managers will help to ensure that your asbestos removal projects are completed to specification, on time and to the highest standards.
Click here to find out more about our asbestos services.
