Health and safety in schools is about taking a sensible and proportionate approach to ensure that the premises provide a healthy and safe place for all who use them, including the school workforce, visitors and pupils.
If your school contains asbestos-containing materials, this checklist can help you. Using it is not mandatory – but doing so will give users and employers confidence that sensible precautions are in place.
Who is this checklist for?
This checklist will help those responsible for maintenance and repair of school buildings (the ‘dutyholder’) review their asbestos management arrangements.
It asks key questions so schools can check if suitable precautions are in place, and record any further action that is needed.
How should it be used?
The checklist summarises the requirements for dutyholders in schools under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012.
It is based on common issues identified during HSE inspections looking at the duty to manage asbestos in schools. It will help schools assess their management arrangements but is not intended to be exhaustive.
For detailed guidance on how to manage asbestos, including information on asbestos management surveys, management plans and registers, please see the following links:
- Asbestos - duty to manage
- Managing and working with asbestos. Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012. Approved Code of Practice and guidance
- A comprehensive guide to managing asbestos in premises
- Asbestos: The survey guide
The Department for Education (DfE) and Welsh Government, with support from HSE, provide guidance on managing asbestos in schools.
Although the guidance is for schools in England and Wales, it contains useful resources for schools and colleges across Great Britain.
- Managing asbestos in your school or college (Department for Education)
- Asbestos management in schools (Welsh Government)
Download the asbestos management checklist for schools
You can download the asbestos management checklist for schools here.