TUC: boost school maintenance money

2 August 2010

The government must hand over more money to improve school maintenance to avoid exposing staff and students to health risks, especially asbestos, the TUC said.

Stopping the school building programme puts children at risk of asbestos exposure, a hidden consequence of the government’s cancellation of the Building Schools for the Future Programme.

There “is a real and increased risk of children, teachers and support staff being exposed to asbestos fibres,” the TUC Asbestos Support and Campaign Group said.

Many school buildings were built before 1970 “and almost certainly contain asbestos”. As these buildings fall into disrepair the risk of asbestos exposure increases dramatically.

Teaching unions consider that total removal is the safest option. Also. Many schools have spent little on maintenance in the promise of being part of the new schools building programme.

As public spending is being squeezed the Northern TUC Asbestos Campaign Group are calling for continued investment in school buildings to prevent asbestos exposure.

Kevin Rowan, regional secretary of the Northern TUC, said many schools in the region “are in a terrible state” of disrepair.

“Teachers, governing bodies, pupils and parents have been waiting desperately for new building work to take place, to allow them to enjoy working and learning in a decent, safe and healthy environment. Now they continue to face risks of serious and potentially fatal hazards due to the lack of investment in the maintenance and improvement of their schools.”

The TUC claimed that the number of teachers who have died from mesothelioma -- cancer caused exclusively by asbestos -- has increased by over 300 per cent in the past 20 years. Patricia Cameron, from Capheaton, Northumberland, died in 2004 from mesothelioma, after she was first exposed to asbestos while working at Otterburn First School in the 1970s.