A timely reminder of the importance of the right asbestos management surveys in educational establishments is the Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) publication of the results of its most recent asbestos in schools inspection initiative.

1. Results Announced of HSE's Latest Asbestos Management In
Schools Inspections
A timely reminder of the importance of the right asbestos
management surveys in educational establishments is the
Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) publication of the results
of its most recent asbestos in schools inspection initiative.
The period between April 2013 and January 2014 saw the
inspection by HSE of a carefully selected random sample of
153 schools outside local authority control, including

2. independent, voluntary aided and foundation schools,
academies and free schools.
71 per cent of the inspected schools were not required to
make any changes to their present asbestos management
arrangements or were given straightforward, simple advice.
HSE did give written advice to 29 per cent (44 schools), and
needed to take enforcement action for 13 per cent (20
schools). This action was in the form of improvement notices
setting out a requirement for recipient schools to adjust their
asbestos management arrangements.
Failures like training staff and the production of written
management plans attracted enforcement action - not due to
pupils or staff being deemed at significant risk of exposure,
but because these are vital elements of the required control
measures.
The new survey showed an overall improvement in
compliance with the Control of Asbestos Regulations in
England, Scotland and Wales compared to the findings of a
similar programme that inspected 164 non-local authority

3. schools in 2010/11, when 28 schools had 41 improvement
notices served upon them.
The Head of HSE's Public Services Sector, Geoff Cox, said that
the last few years had seen "a lot of work by stakeholders
across the school sector to raise awareness of the duty to
manage asbestos. It is really encouraging to see that
awareness of the requirements has increased since our
previous inspection initiative.
"That said, schools should not be under any illusion –
managing asbestos requires ongoing attention. Schools now
have access to a wealth of guidance setting out clear and
straightforward steps to achieve and maintain compliance.
Where duty holders fall below acceptable standards, HSE has
taken, and will continue to take, enforcement action."
All schools are required to have up to date records of
materials within their establishment that contain
asbestos, so that the school knows the location of such
materials that could be damaged or disturbed by normal
activities or foreseeable maintenance, or when new
equipment is being installed.

4. There is no significant risk to health posed by asbestos
in good condition that remains undamaged and
undisturbed, provided that appropriate asbestos
management takes place in compliance with the legal
requirements and in line with published HSE advice.
Training for maintenance staff whose work could lead to
their exposure to asbestos is also essential, with such
personnel needing to be made aware of the location and
condition of any asbestos in the school.