Reassuring parents about asbestos in schools

The health and safety of all children in Kent schools is our top priority and we are confident there is no risk to children who attend a school which has some degree of asbestos in the building.

The presence of asbestos in itself does not present a risk to health providing it is not disturbed and is maintained in a safe condition. In most instances where asbestos exists in schools it has been used to insulate parts of buildings that are out of sight and not accessible, for example boiler rooms, pipes, chimneys and roofs.

In fact the majority of schools in the UK have some degree of asbestos in their buildings.

Through the county council’s asbestos management system, which includes regular surveys of all premises, it is known where asbestos risk is present and its location in all Kent County Council buildings, including schools.

The process of managing asbestos in schools is governed through strict controls, checks and training set by Kent County Council in accordance with current Health and Safety Executive (HSE) legislation and regulations in order to protect all site users including staff, pupils, contractors and visitors.

In the event that asbestos needs to be removed, for example during building and refurbishment works, the county council always uses fully qualified and HSE licensed asbestos surveyors and removal specialists and such works are carried out under controlled conditions as per HSE guidelines without risk to building users.