The number of schools and nurseries which have asbestos in East Renfrewshire has been revealed in a new list.
The list obtained through a Freedom of Information Request includes four secondary schools and 14 primary schools, as well as two nurseries.
Braidbar Primary School, Busby Nursery (part of School), Busby Primary School, Carlibar Primary School, Crookfur Primary School, Cross Arthurlie Primary School, Eaglesham Primary School, Giffnock Primary School and Nursery, Kirkhill Primary School, Means Castle High School, Robslee / Our Lady of the Missions Primary School, Springhill Primary School, St Cadoc’s Primary School, St Joseph’s Primary School, St Luke’s High School, St Mark’s Primary School, St Ninian’s High School, Thornliebank Primary School and Woodfarm High School have been recorded by the council as containing asbestos:
Clydebank Asbestos Group , which supports asbestos victims and calls for the removal of asbestos from buildings to mitigate its risk, has described the list as “frightening”.
Keen to reassure parents, East Renfrewshire Council (ERC), however, has stressed that the majority of asbestos-related materials within their buildings are "lower-risk thermo plastics and adhesives".
Furthermore, the local authority says that regular inspection of affected areas is carried out to “ensure every building has an accurate and up-to-date log of the location and condition” of asbestos-related materials.
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A spokesperson for Clydebank Asbestos Group said: “As a charity that supports asbestos victims we know all too well the dangers of asbestos exposure and we continue to campaign to bring about change to protect current and future generations from the dangers of asbestos exposure.
“The use of asbestos was prolific during the industrial era and as a result it is within the fabric of our buildings, schools and hospitals.
“In recent years at CAG, we have experienced an increase in the numbers of people we support who have not worked in the traditional sectors associated with exposure but rather they have worked in buildings that contained asbestos.
“In addition to this, we have experienced an increase in younger people being diagnosed with Mesothelioma and also women. Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer almost always caused by asbestos exposure.
“It was therefore frightening to see the list of schools that contained asbestos in East Renfrewshire.
“There is a way to mitigate that risk, and that is to safely remove asbestos from our buildings, starting with our schools.
“In doing so we would protect our children and surely that is worth the money."
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Asbestos is a general name given to several naturally occurring fibrous minerals that have crystallised to form fibres.
It is generally divided into two sub-groups; serpentine and amphiboles.
Amphibole fibres (crocidolite-blue asbestos, amosite-brown asbestos, tremolite, actinolite and anthophyllite) are brittle fibres and are often rod- or needle-like in appearance.
It is this form that is more hazardous to health and crocidolite was the most commonly used amphibole asbestos in the past.
The FOI response from ERC did not outline which types of asbestos are present or where they are located in the educational establishments affected.
A further FOI, however, has confirmed that there are no schools in the local authority with any known crocidolite asbestos in them.
ERC states that independent, UK-accredited specialist asbestos surveyors have inspected and surveyed all of their buildings to ascertain what and where any asbestos is located and what condition it is.
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A spokesperson for the council added: “The council's compliance officers use these surveys and risk assessments to ensure that our buildings are safe for all building users.
“Having identified areas with asbestos-related materials, the majority of which is deemed to be low-risk, regular inspection of these areas is carried out to ensure every building has an accurate and up-to-date log of the location and condition of these materials.”
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Control of Asbestos regulations 2012 states that if the material is in good condition, well protected either by its position or physical protection, reducing the likelihood of damage, and is unlikely to be worked on regularly or otherwise disturbed, it is usually safer to leave it in place and manage it
“The extremely low levels of asbestos contained within our buildings estate is managed by an asbestos management plan, which ensures strict adherence to the HSE guidelines on how to manage asbestos within buildings,” added the spokesperson for the council.
“The majority of asbestos-related materials within our buildings are lower-risk thermo plastics and adhesives.
“We have very few instances of asbestos insulation board, and these materials are limited to locked boiler rooms or in loft areas outwith the areas used by pupils and staff.
"It is important to stress that all known high-risk materials have been removed or encapsulated if not able to be removed.”
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The following facilities have been recorded by ERC as containing asbestos:
Braidbar Primary School
Busby Nursery (part of School)
Busby Primary School
Carlibar Primary School
Crookfur Primary School
Cross Arthurlie Primary School
Eaglesham Primary School
Giffnock Primary School and Nursery
Kirkhill Primary School
Means Castle High School
Robslee / Our Lady of the Missions Primary School
Springhill Primary School
St Cadoc’s Primary School
St Joseph’s Primary School
St Luke’s High School
St Mark’s Primary School
St Ninian’s High School
Thornliebank Primary School
Woodfarm High School
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