ASBESTOS 2

Some of the people involved in setting up and carrying out work which left a Derby school contaminated with asbestos dust could face heavy fines or even a jail sentence. A leading health and safety expert with more than 25 years' experience in industry says he cannot believe how seriously the project to replace windows at Silverhill Primary School, in Draycott Drive, Mickleover, appears to have gone wrong. It left almost 400 parents and more than 30 staff anxious about the effects of inhaling potentially deadly brown asbestos dust. The school employed Horizon Windows, of Ascot Drive, Derby, to replace windows in a project which started during half-term holidays.

Work continued when pupils returned and was only halted when a visiting city council official spotted the situation. Parents are angry that the school was not closed and that the school and council waited for air-testing which revealed five times the acceptable level of asbestos in the air. Pupils awaiting awaiting alternative schooling arrangements. The Health and Safety Executive is to carry out a full investigation of the circumstances surrounding the incident, including whether the proper procedure for work involving asbestos was carried out by the school and if the contractor was "fit and proper" for the job.

Correct procedures include the school devising a management plan of the project, employing a licensed contractor to remove the asbestos before the work started and notification to the HSE. An investigation found no evidence any of these procedures were carried out. Eye witnesses say work areas were not sealed off and that while some panels containing asbestos were removed intact, others were sawn and sledge-hammered out. The safety expert, who must remain anonymous in case he has to give evidence, says things seem to have gone seriously wrong.

He said, "It was down to the school to manage the situation and protect the staff and students. This is the worst case involving a school I've seen. If there was even the risk of one fibre of asbestos being present then the area should have been completely sealed off in advance. Following the guidance of the Health and Safety Work Act of 1974 and subsequent management regulations would have led to this being avoided. I'm fairly sure prosecutions will follow and, if successful, with hefty fines or even jail sentences for either the school or contractor, or both. The council could be drawn into the case."

The cost to restore the school could be as much as £500,000.

I am amazed at the arrogance of Councillor Chris Wynn in suggesting to the governing body of Silverhill Primary School that they should "think through their positions" and resign, following the asbestos contamination at their school. It is not the school's governing body which appeared in court to face prosecution by the Health and Safety Executive, but Derby City Council, two separate charges alleging their failure to implement regulations at many city schools, including Silverhill, over a long period of time, since 1999.

Which officers or members of the city council are prepared to accept responsibility for the unfortunate situation at Silverhill and other schools? Who from the city council has resigned or been asked to "think through their positions"? I am convinced that senior figures from the city council are intent on one thing and one thing only, to blame others, in particular the headteacher, Phil Robinson, and the governing body.

But they are not prepared to accept any responsibility themselves. (Yet more spin from powerful politicians and their press department). I hope that the governing body will stand firm and resist Councillor Wynn. I hope that greater prominence will be given in future articles to the role of the city council in the asbestos incident, their responsibilities and failures since 1999, not just at Silverhill. Paul Harvey

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