Select a region
16 school buildings across the Bailiwick still have asbestos in them but ESC has confirmed none have Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) which has also been linked to safety concerns.
RAAC is an “aerated lightweight cementitious material with no coarse aggregate" used to build roofs, walls and floors.
It's known to have been used in schools and colleges and other public sector buildings across the UK, dating back to the 1960s but its lifespan is known to be around 30 years. Reports suggest it becomes less stable as it ages and can be prone to collapse when wet.
A recent Freedom of Information request asked how many schools in Guernsey have RAAC in their buildings, and how much of it there is in each building, and how much has been removed from schools.
Education, Sport and Culture said "no schools in Guernsey have Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) in their buildings" and so none have been checked, and none has been removed.
The same FOI asked how many schools in Guernsey are logged as having asbestos in their buildings, how much there is, how much has been removed and how many schools haven't been checked asbestos.
ESC explained how all schools were surveyed in 2000 and then a major programme of high risk Asbestos Containing Material removal was carried out over the following decade.
All asbestos was categorised as either A - needing immediate remove, B - removal advised, or C – leave and monitor until removal when that area is refurbished.
During the ten year period between 2000 and 2010 any asbestos categorised as either A or B were removed and replaced with modern materials.
Any asbestos classed as very low risk was put on the C list and continue to be removed as and when refurbishment work is carried out. ESC said that is "in accordance with the Guernsey approved Code of Practice for the Control of Asbestos".
In 2012, all schools were re-surveyed in line with changes to legislation concerning asbestos and the Asbestos Containing Material registers are still updated annually after re- inspections of those known areas where asbestos is present.
Pictured: St Sampson's and Les Beaucamps High schools are both known to be asbestos-free.
Any schools built since 2000 are known to not contain any asbestos as it was banned in construction by then. That would include Le Rondin, the Baubigny Schools and Les Beaucamps High.
The fibres it contains are highly carcinogenic. Breathing in those fibres are proven to increase the risk of developing diseases including asbestosis, mesothelioma and types of cancers affecting the respiratory system, the digestive system and others.
For those reasons asbestos is no longer commonly used in construction across the British Isles.
Having asbestos presence in a building is not in itself dangerous. The risks occur when the asbestos materials are damaged, disturbed or deteriorate over time.
Asbestos must be removed by specialist contractors. They can also test for asbestos. Any asbestos would be removed where necessary or monitored as per the guidelines followed by ESC for school buildings.
Amherst Primary (both infants and juniors), Castel Primary, Deslisles Hall, Forest Primary, the Grammar School, Hautes Capelles Primary (infants and juniors), Herm School, La Houguette Primary, La Mare de Carteret (primary and secondary), Les Voies, Notre Dame Du Rosaire, St Anne's, St Martin's Primary St Mary and St Michael Primary, Vale Primary (infant and junior) and Vauvert Primary.
Asbestos has been registered and present in a number of areas including walls, floors and roofs at various school premises.
Air ducting, sink pads, and pipe gaskets are also affected.
A States funded mesothelioma compensation scheme was launched in 2021 with seven successful claims against it during the first year it was running. Two other claims were refused.
When the scheme was approved in 2019, it was predicted to cost £100,000 a year.
The scheme provides financial assistance to people in Guernsey or Alderney who have been exposed to asbestos and, as a result, developed diffuse mesothelioma. It does not cover other asbestos-related conditions.
Exposure to asbestos cause of death for former St Sampson's head .
Mesothelioma compensation scheme finally introduced
Mesothelioma compensation scheme open for applications
Warning against fly-tipping asbestos as dump charges increase
Comments
Comments on this story express the views of the commentator only, not Bailiwick Publishing. We are unable to guarantee the accuracy of any of those comments.