Asbestos awareness for school staff
Use this 30-minute course to make sure all staff in your school are aware of the risks associated with asbestos. Equip your team, especially those who might accidentally disturb asbestos, with the information they need to stay safe.
Who it's for
All staff
Please note: This course offers Level 1 training in asbestos awareness for school staff.
It's fully in line with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) guidance for Level 1 training in asbestos awareness.
Staff who require training to carry out work in asbestos management, or work that will disturb asbestos, will need specialist Level 2 or 3 training.
This course covers:
- What asbestos is and why it’s dangerous
- Where in school it could be found
- Who is responsible for asbestos in your school
- How to avoid disturbing asbestos
- How to typically report any damage that could lead to the release of asbestos
Details about asbestos, where it is and how it's managed will differ based on your setting. If you’re the dutyholder or appointed person, you’ll need to provide staff with specific details about:
- Your asbestos management plan and where staff can find it
- Who’s responsible for what when it comes to asbestos
- Where asbestos is in your buildings
- Controls you have in place to prevent asbestos disturbance
- Your emergency procedures
- Who to report any damage or deterioration to asbestos-containing materials (ACMs)
Workers who plan to carry out any work which will disturb asbestos require a higher level of information, instruction and training, in addition to asbestos awareness training.
We'd love to hear your feedback
If you've completed this course, we'd love to hear your thoughts on it. Our feedback form takes about 3 to 5 minutes to complete.
We want our training to be a positive experience for all learners. If you have any access needs (for example, a visual impairment or dyslexia), please let us know to see how we can help by contacting [email protected].
Sources
- How asbestos could slow efforts to fix crumbling concrete in English schools, The Guardian
- Teacher dies from cancer after decades of exposure to asbestos, The Guardian
- Asbestos, Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
- Cancer and construction: Asbestos, Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
- Schools and education, Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
- Managing asbestos in your school or college, GOV.UK
- Asbestos in schools: where it may be located, Education Funding Agency
More health and safety resources for your school, including asbestos management
Guidance and templates to help you meet your health and safety requirements
Asbestos management: template plan and examples
You must have an asbestos management plan in place. Use our downloadable template to stay compliant with requirements, and see examples of asbestos policies from schools.
Health and safety audit: template and guidance
Use our template to help you conduct a health and safety audit in your school.
Health and safety duties of trusts: overview template and how to comply
As a trust, you have health and safety duties because you’re the employer. Be clear on what these are and understand how to fulfill them. Use our overview template to help you keep track of and monitor your requirements across your trust.
Premises management policy: model
You don't have to have a dedicated premises management policy, but you do need premises management documents to show how you take care of things like asbestos, fire safety and statutory testing. Use our model policy to help you set out your approach to premises management.
Statutory risk assessments: checklist and guidance
Stay compliant and keep your pupils, staff and visitors safe with our checklist of the risk assessments you need to have in your school. Plus, read advice on when to do a risk assessment
Health and safety checklists for classrooms
Use these classroom checklists to make sure pupils and staff are working in a safe environment. You’ll find our specialist classroom checklists to use alongside a general classroom one from the Health and Safety Executive.