Asbestos: Keeping Our Children Safe in School

There’s always a lot of talk about asbestos in our homes and businesses and how we must do everything we can to keep ourselves safe from exposure. But what about our children in their schooling environments? If there’s asbestos in our homes and businesses, there’s bound to be asbestos in our schools. So, how are we keeping our children safe? Schools need to take some of the following actions.

Identify the Asbestos Risk

We already know that any structure built before January 1, 2000, can contain asbestos. The first step towards keeping our tamariki safe can involve identifying a possible asbestos risk.

Education providers can refer to the WorkSafe Approved Code of Practice Guidance to identify parts of a building that might contain asbestos. Once areas have been identified, school staff members can be educated on identifying asbestos and asbestos-containing materials.

At this point, schools can also employ surveyors to assess the building and highlight all potential risk areas.

Create An Asbestos Management Plan

All workplaces where asbestos is found or is likely to be present must have an Asbestos Management Plan. Schools are no different. If a school was built during a time when asbestos-containing building materials were used, and ACM is likely to be present in the school building, they, too, much have an asbestos management plan.

This plan identifies how the asbestos or ACM will be managed and should be prepared by an asbestos surveyor or some with formal asbestos management knowledge. This is to ensure it complies with WorkSafe guidance.

All asbestos management plans must be in hard copy or electronic form with WorkSafe information and should be updated if asbestos details about the building change.

Record Asbestos Risks

Asbestos is not a material to take lightly, as it can be hazardous in its friable form. After asbestos exposure, you can be at risk of potentially fatal illnesses in later life, such as cancer. That’s why having a hazard and risk register containing asbestos information can be crucial.

The hazard register can provide details about the asbestos, including where it is, its condition (friable/non-friable), how much there is, and a monitoring plan for that asbestos. When information is recorded in this register, the asbestos can be assessed regularly.

Communicate About the Asbestos

Staff, students, and contractors at a school can’t keep themselves safe if they don’t know about the presence of asbestos. Ensure that your asbestos management plan and hazard register is accessible to all contractors and staff. If they must undertake work of any kind at the school, they can learn about the level of care that must be taken and whether they must avoid working in particular areas.

Isolate the Risks

Asbestos is at its most dangerous in its friable form, which means small particles can be released into the air and breathed in. If asbestos is assumed present or has been confirmed, and its condition poses a risk to health, schools must isolate the area immediately. Appropriate warning signs should also be displayed until the risk has been managed.

Follow the Ministry of Education’s Asbestos Management Process

The Ministry of Education understands how important safe asbestos management can be. That’s why they’ve provided schools with a set process to follow if refurbishment, demolition, and excavation projects must be undertaken.

The process for safe asbestos management includes:

1. Conducting an asbestos refurbishment or demolition survey

2. Isolating the asbestos risk

3. Removing the asbestos

4. Communicating and consulting

5. Performing air monitoring

6. Receiving a clearance certificate

7. Updating the risk register

All schools must follow this process as well as the Ministry requirements for asbestos removal. The Ministry of Education’s requirements for removing asbestos in schools are as follows:

1. Completing asbestos refurbishment or demolition survey before work begins

2. Receiving and verifying the removalist company and worker training and qualification information

3. Confirming the licence holder will be on-site during Class A removal or within the immediate vicinity or available for Class B removals

4. Notifying WorkSafe at least five days before work begins

5. Receiving a school or Board of Trustees agreement for work to start

6. Informing the school community of the works via newsletter, website, email, or social media

7. Notifying those in the immediate vicinity of the school

8. Confirming the removal won’t be carried out during school hours or note the rationale for why it must be

9. Checking with local councils about any required permits or resource consent

Keep Our Children Safe in School

Our children should always feel safe in school, and most schools do their best to ensure they are. If you believe there is asbestos in your local school that isn’t being managed, make your concerns known. The health and safety of staff, students, and local workers might just depend on it.