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The ONLY weekly voice for secondary education Issue 222 • September 10 2009 Price £1.00
www.sec-ed.com
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See science in action
Asbestos campaigners
hit back at risk claims
Mesothelioma victim labels expert’s comments ‘unacceptable’
The state-of-the-art Darwin
Centre at the Natural History
Michael Lees, a campaigner
Museum is offering students
by Chris Parr
whose wife – a teacher – died nine
the chance to see behind the
years ago from mesothelioma after
scenes of science. We look Campaigners have rubbished being exposed to asbestos at her
at what the new facility is
claims by a government advisor school, met with the HSE last week.
offering schools
that the asbestos risk to teachers After the meeting, Mr Lees
Pages 8 and 9
and pupils in UK schools is being acknowledged that some posi-
exaggerated. tive moves were being discussed,
Steve Coldrick, director of the such as clarifying schools’ health
disease reduction programme at and safety duties, but called these
the Health and Safety Executive “minor steps”. He added: “The fun-
(HSE), told The Western Mail that damental point is that they do not
teachers’ unions had been “whipped consider that asbestos in schools is
into a frenzy” over the asbestos a serious risk and are therefore con-
issue, saying that even if asbestos tent that they are allocating propor-
fibres were inhaled by teachers and tionate resources. I did not expect it,
pupils, the doses would be too low but it was made clear that there will
to cause any problems. be no step-change in policy.”
Leadership styles
He told the newspaper: “If asbes- Vince Hagedorn, Carole’s hus-
tos was really as dangerous as some band and a former teacher, is also
people would have you believe then growing disillusioned with the
Our fortnightly leadership
no-one would have reached their HSE’s response to the campaign.
page returns for the new
50s because we have all been to He is calling for the formation
term with a look at four key school. It isn’t a case of inhaling of an independent panel of experts,
styles of leadership – which
one fibre and you’re dead.” which would report directly to par-
kind of leader are you?
However, Carole Hagedorn, a liament and advise on the best way
Page 13
former secondary languages teacher to measure and deal with airborne
who contracted the asbestos cancer asbestos fibre levels in schools.
SecEd digital
mesothelioma in June 2008, said Killer: A chest x-ray showing the He said: “In the light of research
the claims were unacceptable. complications that can occur in that shows conclusively that a low
She told us: “It is indeed not the the lungs following asbestos level of inhalation of asbestos fibres
and SecEd
case of ‘one fibre and you’re dead’, exposure. The effects of a malignant for a short length of time is enough
but it is the case that only a brief mesothelioma can clearly be seen to cause mesothelioma in some sus-
exposure is necessary to cause dam- ceptible people, Mr Coldrick’s claim
on Twitter
age – including mesothelioma – to that exposure in schools is insuf-
some people.” simply concerned about a govern- campaigners’ views, the HSE had 1960s and 70s. The doctors tell us ficient to cause illness is fatuous. It
Thousands of teachers are
Ms Hagedorn is one of a number ment system that doesn’t work: to “differentiate between concern, it is dose related. is also believed that young lungs are
of campaigners challenging the there are no clear lines of responsi- and evidence”. “Broadly speaking, the inci- more susceptible to asbestos penetra-
reading SecEddigital, a virtual
government to take action over the bility for school management. He said: “I think we all have dents of asbestos-related diseases tion than those of older people.”
edition of SecEd, which is
issue of asbestos in school build- “The knowledge of where asbestos in our lungs. Low levels, among office workers, teachers, Mr Coldrick responded: “I under-
emailed out every week. ings. They are supported by all of asbestos is located is poor, and but it is there. With that in mind, it farm workers, and retail workers stand the concerns, and wouldn’t
You can sign up for free by
the major teaching unions. there is frequently no training for is difficult to be sensible and pro- are the same. Therefore, if there is deny anyone the opportunity to put
emailing editor@sec-ed.co.uk.
Dr Mary Bousted, general secre- the people in charge of managing it. portionate, but we have to take an an increasing rate where there is their point across, but it’s impor-
SecEd news and features are
tary of the Association of Teachers The point is that no teacher should evidence-based approach. no obvious occupational exposure, tant that people take a measured
and Lecturers, spoke to SecEd fol- die of exposure at school, and for “Based on the thousands who there must be something else going view, and we do that by looking at
now also available on Twitter.
lowing Mr Coldrick’s comments. every teacher exposed, hundreds of have died, we know that the high- on not related to the job. Perhaps the evidence. Of course you should
You can follow us at www.
She said: “Teacher unions are children are exposed too.” est risk workers are those on ship- people were exposed when walk- avoid inhaling asbestos fibres, but
14904 ATL Books+Bubbles Press ad 50x277 25/8/09 10:32 Page 2twitter.com/SecEd_Education
not being ‘whipped into a frenzy’. Mr Coldrick told SecEd that yards, on the railways, or who ing past building sites on their way you should not run away with the
We are not being alarmist. We are although he sympathised with the worked in construction during the to work.” idea that you will die if you do.”
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