Asbestos in Schools: What Should the Dutyholder Be Doing?

Asbestos in Schools: What Should the Dutyholder Be Doing?

Many school buildings across the UK still contain asbestos, particularly those built or refurbished before 2000. However, the presence of asbestos does not automatically mean a building is unsafe.

The main risk arises when asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) become damaged or disturbed, releasing harmful fibres into the air.

Under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, schools have a legal duty to manage these risks. But who is responsible, and what should they be doing?

Who Is the Dutyholder in a School?

The dutyholder is the person or organisation responsible for the maintenance or repair of the school building.

This can vary depending on the type of school:

• Local authority-maintained schools: Often the local authority, although some duties may be shared with the school.
• Academies and free schools: Usually the academy trust.
• Voluntary-aided and foundation schools: Generally the governing body.
• Independent schools: The proprietor, governors or trustees, depending on the arrangements.

The dutyholder must take reasonable steps to identify asbestos, assess the risks and make sure suitable controls are in place.

1. Know Where Asbestos Is Located

The first step is understanding whether asbestos is present in the school.

Asbestos was commonly used in older buildings and may be found in:

• Ceiling and floor tiles
• Pipe and boiler insulation
• Roofing materials
• Wall panels and partitions
• Textured coatings
• Service ducts and other hidden areas

A suitable asbestos survey can help identify suspected materials and assess their locations and condition. The findings should be recorded in an asbestos register, which must be kept up to date.

2. Have an Asbestos Management Plan

An asbestos management plan explains how the school will control the risk of asbestos exposure.

It should include:

• The location and condition of known or suspected ACMs
• Who is responsible for managing asbestos
• How materials will be checked and monitored
• Procedures for maintenance or repair work
• What to do if asbestos is damaged or disturbed
• How information will be shared with staff and contractors

It should be reviewed at least every 12 months and updated sooner when needed.

3. Check the Condition of Asbestos Regularly

Asbestos that is in good condition and unlikely to be disturbed can often remain safely in place.

However, materials may deteriorate over time. Damaged asbestos can increase the risk of asbestos fibres being released.

Dutyholders should arrange regular checks of known ACMs and record any changes. If damage is found, suitable action may include repairing, sealing, protecting or removing the material, depending on the risk.

4. Make Sure Staff and Contractors Have the Right Information

Maintenance work is one of the main ways asbestos can be disturbed in schools.

Even simple tasks, like drilling into walls, replacing ceiling tiles or installing cables, may create a risk.

Before work begins, the dutyholder must make sure anyone who could disturb asbestos has access to relevant information from the asbestos register and management plan.

Contractors must be appropriately trained and competent for the work involved. Staff who may encounter asbestos should also receive suitable asbestos awareness training.

Teachers and other school staff should know which materials must not be disturbed and how to report suspected damage.

5. Plan Carefully Before Refurbishment Work

School holidays are often used for repairs, upgrades and refurbishment projects. However, an existing asbestos management survey may not provide enough information for more intrusive work.

Where refurbishment or demolition could disturb hidden asbestos, a suitable refurbishment or demolition survey is needed before the work begins.

This helps identify materials that may need to be safely removed or managed before contractors start.

6. Know What to Do if Asbestos Is Disturbed

Schools should have clear procedures for dealing with accidental damage to suspected asbestos-containing materials.

If asbestos is disturbed, work should stop and access to the affected area should be restricted. The incident should be reported to the responsible person so that competent advice can be obtained.

The area should not be cleaned or disturbed further by untrained staff.

Having a clear response plan can help prevent further exposure and ensure the situation is dealt with safely.

Is Your School Managing Asbestos Correctly?

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) provides guidance and an asbestos management checklist for schools.

Dutyholders should regularly review their arrangements and make sure that surveys, registers, management plans and staff information remain up to date.

Effective asbestos management is about more than meeting legal requirements. It helps protect pupils, teachers, maintenance teams and everyone who uses the school building.

How Summit Environmental Can Help

At Summit Environmental, we help schools and those responsible for their buildings understand and manage asbestos risks.

Our asbestos services include management surveys, refurbishment and demolition surveys, re-inspections and support with asbestos management plans.

Whether you need an updated asbestos survey or advice on managing known materials, our experienced team can help you understand the next steps.

Contact Summit Environmental today to discuss asbestos management at your school.