1:59pm Friday 13th August 2010
DEADLY asbestos was not properly monitored in schools and steps to prevent risk from deadly bacteria were not taken, it has emerged.
Spot checks were carried out at four Walthamstow schools in June after the council failed to fully respond to a request for information by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE).
An inspector found Henry Maynard Junior School in Addison Road, Henry Maynard Infant School in Maynard Road, Kelmscott School in Markhouse Road and Willowfield Humanities College in Clifton Avenue did not have asbestos management plans, as required by law.
An action plan resulting from a risk assessment of the threat of Legionella, the bacteria which causes Legionnaires Disease, had also not been implemented.
The HSE said it found no evidence that children or staff were put at risk from asbestos debris or Legionella in water systems, but ordered the council to review arrangements at all schools in the borough.
But public sector union UNISON says the council failed in its duty to safeguard teachers and pupils in order to save money.
A HSE spokeswoman said: “In 2006 the regulations changed and It is now not just a matter of knowing where the asbestos is, but it is know also a matter of knowing what is going to be done to manage it.
“They had identified where it is, but had not fulfilled the requirement to have a management plan.
“(The inspector) did not come across any debris and if it is undisturbed it is better to leave it where it is.
“He asked about Legionella and learned that they had not implemented the action plan arising from a risk assessment.
“Schools are very low risk compared to offices with air conditioning units, but there is still a risk.
"The inspector did not come across anything that caused undue concern.”
She added that the council is expected to meet the requirements laid out by the HSE enforcement notice by September.
Su Manning, UNISON branch health and safety convener, said: “It is very worrying to learn that the council has not been carrying out its duties to safeguard the children and employees who attend Waltham Forest schools.
“The HSE have told us that the council has not met the requirements of its own risk assessment and we now have a situation where the council is being ordered to carry out its duties under health and safety legislation.
“A further failure to act could result in prosecution.
“It is quite staggering that this situation should arise at a time when we know that the government are planning to deregulate health and safety further and reduce the number of inspections and notices issued by the HSE.”
Cllr Saima Mahmud, cabinet member for children and young people, said: “There’s nothing more important than safeguarding our young people. That’s why the Council has accepted all of the Health and Safety Executive’s recommendations and will meet every deadline.
“From September onwards, school staff will be offered extensive training on how to keep accurate records of ACM. Similarly, asbestos awareness training is now an integral part of the borough's health and safety training programme, and a working group has been set up with Unison and other trade unions to review and update our policies and procedures, including our original asbestos plan.
“Our schools have an excellent health and safety record and I’m grateful this issue was identified and a plan has been put in place to deal with it.”
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