As the summer holidays draw to a close, new figures show that asbestos containing materials were present in the bedrooms of at least 17,000 students last year.
The statistics were revealed following a series of Freedom of Information requests made by the Guardian newspaper.
88 universities replied to their questions, with 38 confirming that they provide accommodation which contains asbestos - one university alone has 2,313 bedrooms which contain the substance.
In response to the findings, the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) said that they were “deeply concerned” and are calling for the government to act:
“ATL has campaigned hard for a national audit to check for the presence and state of asbestos in all education establishments and for its safe removal. This discovery shows how necessary and urgent this is.
“We call on the government to take immediate action to ensure these bedrooms are checked, made safe and have the asbestos removed.”
If asbestos containing materials remain in good condition there should be little risk but once it becomes damaged, fibres can be released . However, it appears that many students are in the dark as to whether their accommodation actually contains asbestos; according to the Guardian, “several” universities confirmed that they do not share this information with residents.
Dr John Moore-Gillon, adviser to the British Lung Foundation, was quoted as saying:
“The presence of asbestos which is sealed inside the fabric of university accommodation isn’t a problem in itself. Indeed, there are likely to be millions of people around the country living and working safely in buildings in which asbestos is present.
“However, problems can arise if the asbestos is disturbed and the fibres are released into the air and inhaled. Renovations and even DIY could create a risk, so it’s a sensible step for everybody – not just university students – to know where asbestos might be found in their homes and accommodation.”
A spokesman for the university with the highest number of asbestos-containing bedrooms stated:
“All students in university accommodation are under an obligation to report damage of any kind as soon as possible and are aware that they can incur a fine for non-reporting. The material containing asbestos in these rooms is fully sealed and completely safe, fully in line with all statutory requirements and good practice. We have a range of systems in place to ensure any damage in student accommodation is dealt with promptly, including a very active residential warden and tutor scheme.”
Should universities be required to tell their residents where asbestos is located? Does the law need to be tightened to ensure that asbestos is removed from such premises? Let us know your thoughts!
Santia provides a range of asbestos management services to ensure compliance with regulations. These can be delivered as a complete asbestos risk management solution or a tailored package of services to meet your specific requirements.
With erisk, Santia’s online health and safety management system, the full range of disciplines relating to health and safety, including fire safety through to the management of asbestos, environmental control and occupational health are clearly presented on one screen.