Asbestos management plans in schools

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WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR TREASURY AND RESOURCES BY DEPUTY J.A. HILTON OF ST. HELIER

ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 18th MARCH 2014

Question

1. How many primary schools in the Island have asbestos in them and do they all have asbestos management plans?
2. How many secondary schools have asbestos in them and do they all have asbestos management plans?
3. What training, if any, has been given to staff working in schools where there is known to be asbestos?
4. What funds, if any, have been committed to the removal of asbestos?
5. Has Property Holdings ensured that the Education, Sport and Culture Department is aware of the increased risk to children associated with the exposure to asbestos?
6. What is the policy on removing asbestos from schools and is this in line with a States-wide policy? Answer

Jersey Property Holdings (JPH) assumed responsibility for the Education Estate in 2006. Until this time the estates was under the control of Education Sport and Culture (ESC). JPH have management plans for all known asbestos within their buildings. JPH follow the Approved Code of Practice 8 Revised (ACoP) guidelines, which came into force on 1st October 2009, in connection with asbestos management.

1. There are currently 26 primary schools all of which have an asbestos management plan. There are 10 with asbestos present.
2. There are currently 8 secondary schools all of which have an asbestos management plan. There are 4 with asbestos present.

In both Primary and Secondary schools all asbestos that remains in situ is in good condition and in areas where it cannot be disturbed unless major destructive works were to take place, in which case appropriate removal procedures would be put in place. There is no risk from this remaining in place in its current condition and this is monitored in accordance with the ACoP.

3. JPH has placed all relevant staff on asbestos awareness training and is confident that they have the appropriate knowledge and expertise to be able to recognise and manage the potential presence of asbestos. In compliance with the ACoP in relation to the management of asbestos, all our schools (and other properties) are inspected annually with the last inspection being completed in February 2014.

Where JPH instructs contractors to undertake work at a school, or indeed any site, the contractors

have been through a rigorous selection process that includes presentation of all their Health and Safety Policy documentation as well as the preparation of risk assessment and method statements for the tasks they are required to undertake.

All orders to contractors issued by JPH to a site where it is known there is asbestos present are clearly marked that there are hazards on site to inform the contractors; copies of the asbestos

surveys are held on site in the site log books which the contractors are required to sign in confirming that they have read and understood the documentation prior to commencing any works.

JPH has not undertaken any training for ESC staff or contractors that may be appointed by ESC directly.

4. Over the last 5 years JPH has spent approximately £570,000 on asbestos management, monitoring and removal in Public buildings.
5. JPH has worked closely with ESC to ensure that all schools are well managed with regards to asbestos. Annual inspections are carried out, with the last ones completed in February 2014.

JPH has issued ESC, and visited every school to pass on, a copy of its internal Health and Safety document that covers Asbestos Management and the duties of the person in control of the premises.

The JPH/ ESC Service Level Agreement (SLA) also notifies the property tenant (ESC) that if any works are instructed directly and funded directly from their budget that it is their responsibility to notify the contractors and ensure the contractors read and understand the Asbestos Survey/ Register and Asbestos Management Plan prior to any works commencing on site.

6. JPH policy follows best practice, which is the Approved Code of Practice whereby all properties are inspected annually. Where present, asbestos that isin good condition, and is not in danger of being disturbed, is marked, controlled and monitored. Where this is not the case asbestos has been removed by approved licensed contractors. JPH adopts this policy across its entire portfolio.

The current policy of JPH is to reduce the risk of asbestos by, where reasonably practicable, removing known asbestos materials from its buildings. This is in line with States-wide policy.

JPH is working with the corporate Health and Safety Manager, ESC and Social Security to ensure that there is a corporate approach to the management of Asbestos.