HSE risk exaggerated Comment 29 Aug 09

Comment on HSE’s statement that the danger of asbestos in classrooms is exaggerated In an article in the Western Mail entitled “The danger of asbestos in classrooms is exagger”a tehde HSE Head of the Disease Reduction Programme made va rious statements that are either wrong, or cannot be substantiated. These statements from a senior HSE official are most disturbing and demonstrate not only HSE’s inability to accept that schools should be treated as a special place, but also explain why over the years they have failed to take a precautionary approach to prevent the asbestos exposure of the occupants. Instead the HSE have encouraged asbestos to be left in place, with the inevitable consequence that numerous asbestos incidents have occurred in schools that have caused widespread contamination of classrooms and exposure of both staff and children. The HSE claim that “the doses would be too low to cause any prob lheom wse”ver this runs contrary to ample evidence of significant asbestos fibre release over prolonged periods of time in 1schools. In addition to this a fundamental flaw in their policy is their continued application of 2workplace asbestos exposures limits to children, despite the fact that they are more at risk from 3asbestos exposure than adults. More than forty years ago the medical profession informed the 4Government of the increased risk and advised them to take preventative measures in schools, but they failed to do so as they preferred ...