Asbestos found in school science lab equipment

Asbestos has been found in a common piece of science lab equipment sold by two companies to schools across the UK.

Metal gauze mats, which are designed for use over Bunsen burners, are affected – and schools are being urged to stop using them altogether until they can be certain their gauzes are free of asbestos.

As a result, science experiments in some classrooms have been cancelled or delayed at the start of a new school year.

Schools have received guidance to stop using any gauzes that date back to 1976, and there are growing calls to publicly name the two suppliers involved.

Chris Keates, the general secretary of the NASUWT union, said: “It is shocking that suppliers, clearly it seems only interested in profit not people, have distributed such life-threatening equipment to schools putting children and teachers and other staff at risk.”

She added that it was “unacceptable” that the suppliers have not been named, as this information would help schools determine if they have this “potentially deadly material” in their buildings.

“Staff, pupils and parents will be deeply anxious as a result of this announcement. If schools had the names of the suppliers the anxiety and distress could be alleviated as they could confirm that they had not used these suppliers,” Ms Keates warned.

“There are serious questions to be asked and answered about this appalling situation.”

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) told Sky News that it is “limited by legal process” in what it can say about the suppliers involved, but said both companies are actively cooperating in its investigation.

A spokeswoman added that it is not clear how many schools, colleges and other users have been affected.

The Department for Education said: “Following advice from the Health and Safety Executive we have immediately written to all secondary schools and colleges advising them to take steps to remove and dispose of potentially hazardous mesh gauze used in science lessons.

“We will continue to liaise with the HSE and CLEAPSS [the organisation which advises local authorities and schools on science and technology] over this issue.”

The HSE believes that the risk posed by these gauzes is “extremely low”, and schools should only stop using them as a precautionary measure.

Nonetheless, teachers and technicians are being told to treat suspect gauzes as hazardous waste by double bagging them or sealing off cupboards where they are stored until they can be completely sure that they are safe to use.

The HSE said “limited quantitative testing” on gauze materials from the two suppliers showed that they contained 20% to 30% asbestos – however, it was not detected in all gauzes tested.

A relatively rare type of asbestos, known as tremolite, was found.

Officials are investigating how they entered the UK in the first place as EU laws prevent asbestos from being used – and the HSE believes the affected gauze mats are imports. Enforcement notices have been served on the two suppliers involved.

In June and July, several makes of gauze mats in New Zealand were recalled because they were also found to contain tremolite asbestos. However, there is nothing to suggest that the companies affected by these recalls were supplying equipment to the UK.

The NASUWT is demanding to know how the government will support affected schools, which are being told they must pay for affected gauzes to be disposed of as hazardous waste, as well as buy replacements.

A Department for Education spokeswoman told Sky News that schools should seek compensation from their suppliers.

(c) Sky News 2018: Asbestos found in school science lab equipment