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Asbestos found in most of our schools
UNION chiefs are calling for more to be done to safeguard teachers and pupils from asbestos in schools.
Eighty-eight per cent of the borough's 69 schools have been found to have traces of the building material.
The figures, gathered under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, show asbestos was found in 92 per cent of South Tyneside's primary schools, 89 per cent of secondary schools, 80 per cent of special schools, and half of nursery schools.
However, education chiefs say they are "managing and controlling" the situation.
Mick Lyons, executive member for teaching union NASUWT in South Tyneside, says teachers should be given more information about the material to make the environment as safe as possible.
He said: "Teachers and pupils should be told exactly where the asbestos is and told to stay away from it.
"Something as little as pushing a pin in and out of a wall which contains asbestos can release 6,000 fibres.
"We would prefer schools to take all the asbestos out. Whether that's financially viable or not is another issue."
Asbestos is known as the silent killer by many as it only affects people years after they are first exposed to it.
Earlier this year, Prime Minister Gordon Brown vowed to tackle the problem, and he has ordered education ministers to find out what local authorities are doing to deal with asbestos in schools.
South Tyneside Council today moved to ease fears about the issue.
A spokesman said: "We continue to manage and control asbestos containing materials where they still exist in our schools, and have undertaken extensive programmes of work to remove asbestos materials for a number of years.
"We believe children and young people deserve the very best educational facilities, and that means providing school buildings fit for a 21st century education.
"Through the Transforming Our Primary Schools and Building Schools for the Future programmes, we are providing new school buildings.
"As well as being asbestos-free, the new buildings will be built to high standards."
Exposure to asbestos fibres can cause illnesses including mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis.
It became increasingly popular among builders in the late 19th century because of its resistance to heat, chemical damage, its sound absorption and tensile strength.
Since the mid-1980s, many uses of asbestos have been banned.
The Government says 70 per cent of UK schools have asbestos in their structures.
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Weather for South Shields
Saturday 04 February 2012
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