Independent report released after asbestos incident

Children and staff at Kintbury St Mary's Primary School were exposed to a "very low" level of asbestos

CHILDREN and staff at Kintbury St Mary's Primary School were exposed to a “very low” level of asbestos in an incident in March, according to an independent asbestos specialist.

Seventy pupils and a number of staff at the Gainsborough Avenue school were evacuated from the school hall on March 31 after a chemical reaction during a science workshop involving a hydrogen balloon caused a ‘sonic reaction', disturbing ceiling tiles in the hall that were thought to contain asbestos.

The hall was sealed off as health and safety officers investigated the incident and the children's uniforms were retained and bagged at the school for testing, with children being sent home in their PE kits.

A report has now been compiled into the incident by an independent asbestos specialist - the managing director of Asbestos Building Projects, Richard Pomeroy - and this has been provided to parents.

In his report, Mr Pomeroy said: “Based on current evidence, I consider a worst case scenario of health risks arising from asbestos exposure during the incident for the children and staff closest to the explosion is very low and in the words of the authoritative authors on the subject, ‘probably insignificant'.”

This is because the results of air tests carried out by Scientific Services Limited (SSL) showed that the level of respirable fibres in the air were lower than clearance indicator levels, as set out in the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006.

Swab tests also showed that most of the dust generated as a result of the blast was not asbestos, but general dust that had accumulated over a long period of time.

Following the incident, planned work to remove the asbestos insulating board tiles from the hall ceiling has been brought forward and completed, while the clothing taken from children and staff was safely disposed of by a licensed contractor, with all people affected being appropriately compensated.

The school headteacher, Tina Norton, said: “It is unfortunate that a fun workshop that offered an exciting way for children to learn about science had this unintended consequence.

“The report from the independent specialist is very reassuring. As the boards have now been removed this should put everyone's mind at rest.”