Can I ask you to sign this petition please?

PROTECT OUR CHILDREN AND TEACHERS FROM ASBESTOS EXPOSURE AT SCHOOL
Campaign created by
Lucie Stephens

TO: NICKY MORGAN, SECRETARY OF STATE FOR EDUCATION

Parents have been kept in the dark about asbestos risks for too long. We want every school in the UK to have to produce an annual report about the type and condition of any asbestos on the premises and share this with all parents and staff. Every child's potential exposure to asbestos at school must be recorded and shared with parents. This has been happening in the USA for the last 30 years.
AND
The Government must introduce and implement a policy for the phased removal of all asbestos from schools to be completed by 2028, starting with the most dangerous asbestos. MP's recommended this in 2012 but no action has been taken.

Why is this important?

My Mum died on Sunday 26th June from mesothelioma, a cancer that comes from exposure to asbestos. It can lie dormant for a long time, meaning that victims are diagnosed with the illness 15 to 60 years after their exposure. Mum believes she was exposed to asbestos in the schools she taught in. Before she died I promised her that I will do my best to make sure no-one else has to suffer like she has.

The facts about asbestos in schools
• 86% of UK schools have asbestos in them, putting over 7 million pupils at risk. A survey in 2015 found that 44% of teachers have not been told if their school contains asbestos. This lack of awareness puts them and their pupils at risk of exposure.
• More than 224 school teachers in England have died of mesothelioma between 2003 and 2012. There is a similar pattern for school support and maintenance staff. Last year 22 teachers died, meaning the UK has the highest death rate in the world. Experts predict that the number of school related deaths in the UK will continue to rise.
• Children are particularly vulnerable to developing mesothelioma. A five year old child that is exposed is five times more likely to contract mesothelioma than someone exposed to asbestos in their 30s. It is reported that between 200 and 300 people die each year from exposure to asbestos as school children.

All of these deaths are completely preventable. We've known the dangers since the 1960s with legislation controlling its use since the mid-1980’s. 2 million asbestos fibres can fit on a pin head but mesothelioma can develop from ingesting only one or two fibres. There are no safe levels of exposure to asbestos.

Mum taught over 800 children and was a wonderful teacher and very committed to her work. Some of her ex-pupils recently wrote to her saying ‘you were the best reception teacher we could ever have wished for and you gave us the best grounding in education that anyone could ever have’. I’ve seen first hand the pain and suffering that mesothelioma causes.

I’ve lost my darling Mum to this terrible disease, as a parent I need to be sure that my school age daughter is not being put at risk simply by going to school. We can't let more of our children and teachers die from this entirely preventable disease. Nicky Morgan must prioritise the removal of all asbestos from all our schools.

How it will be delivered

My family will deliver this petition in person to the Minister of Education.

https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/protect-our-children-and-teachers-from-asbestos-exposure-in-schools?source=facebook-share-button&time=1467374042


If you have a minute please support this cause.
This is also the cancer my friend Lisa has and in all probability, it came from our school..

Signed, facebooked and tweeted, terrible stuff and they used it in schools.

Signed and facebooked......

Thanks sass X
Thanks Vic X

I'm with you in spirit, but let a foreigner sign a petition and all hell breaks loose

Why?

I've signed the petition because it's important. My old school was pulled down only a few years ago after it was found to be severly conrtaminated with asbestos. It's a deadly disease.

http://www.asbestosexposureschools.co.uk/npaper%20links/Old%20Dalkeith%20High%20School%20up%20for%20demolition%20following%20asbestos%20find%20-%20MidLothian%20Today.htm

Thank you Irn X

If Asbestos is painted over or sealed in some other way it is not dangerous.

It's when it's smashed or sawn that fibres float about, just leave it alone no problem.

My understanding of the peril of asbestos is airborne fibres, is it BLUE asbestos which is the norty one?????

nicko wrote:If Asbestos is painted over or sealed in some other way it is not dangerous.

It's when it's smashed or sawn that fibres float about,  just leave it alone no problem.

Not true Nicko, over time it disintegrates even if it's been sealed.

It was used for all kinds of stuff and as many school buildings are in a bad state of repair, it is a considerable health hazard to our children and teachers.

It's the Blue one slightly more dangerous than white, and it is floating fibres that get into your lungs.

nicko wrote:It's the Blue one slightly more dangerous than white,   and it is floating fibres that get into your lungs.

One fibre of blue asbestos in your lungs will cause lung cancer, just one fibre.  White asbestos is not quite as lethal as that but very dangerous and has been found to be floating around in many of our schools.

Read this:

Schools are facing an asbestos timebomb

https://www.theguardian.com/education/2015/may/19/schools-asbestos-buildings-unable-get-rid




You have grandchildren Nicko, why aren't you signing?

They go to new Schools,only a year old.

nicko wrote:They go to new Schools,only a year old.

That's really good, I'm pleased they're safe, but is there any way you might sign a petition for children not so lucky?
Don't know if you read the OP but teachers are dying from this.

My friend is also going to die from this and al she did was go to school as a child.....
The same school I went to.

Done. x

Thank you Syl X

Signed Eddie

feelthelove wrote:Signed Eddie

Thank you FTL X