A second report into airborne asbestos at Cwmcarn High School has revealed very low levels of the toxic substance.
The school was closed on October 12 last year after a report by Santia Asbestos Management Ltd recommended that school buildings should be demolished because of widespread airborne asbestos. Since then, the school’s pupils have re-located to the former Coleg Gwent campus in Ebbw Vale.
But a new report by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has said the original findings by Santia may have been overstated.
The HSE report states the original tests carried out by Santia measured all fibres in the air and not just asbestos.
New tests carried out by HSE investigators found asbestos levels were below the accepted level, also known as the Level of Quantification (LOQ).
The HSE report reads: “Overall, the sampling and analytical TEM analysis carried out by HSL showed that there is no evidence for a quantifiable transfer of asbestos fibres from the ceiling void into the classrooms.
“The results demonstrated that the average concentrations of asbestos fibres in the occupied areas
at Cwmcarn school including from the presence of the AIB debris in the ceiling void, were very
low and below the LOQ.”
HSE investigators tested conditions in classrooms, the school’s library and in the ceiling void.
The school said in a statement: “All of the samples taken by HSL were below the ‘limit of quantification’, in other words they were so small that they would be below the target sensitivity.
“To place this in context such levels would be similar to that found in background levels in the atmosphere.
“Even with attempts to disturb the fibres through opening all the doors and windows, levels of fibres in the classrooms remained below the levels of quantification.”
Meanwhile, Caerphilly County Borough Council has agreed to work with school’s board of governors after they insisted on the school’s own independent report.
The council has agreed to pay for the school’s own asbestos consultant to carry out a survey in the next three weeks.
The school’s chair of governors Gary Thomas said: “We are delighted that the council are working with Cwmcarn High School to find a positive outcome. We are committed to working with the Council and are agreeing a plan with them for the next steps.”
Caerphilly County Borough Council and Santia have been asked to comment on the HSE findings.
Airborne asbestos concentrations at Cwmcarn High School by
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People have been calling for this enquiry since the day the first report was released – the supporters of the school were slated for asking for this inquiry! Why? Those who were doing the slating had something to gain from The school being closed!
Can we thank the independent press for heeding our concerns from the start. As you failed to ask the questions we were asking our children have now been transported to Ebbw Vale for over three months!
The manner in which this school has been dealt with over this is an utter disgrace! The initial investigation upon which the Council acted when it closed the school is now shown by the HSL report to have been conducted incompetently, and the widely criticized decision by the school governors to commission an independent survey has been clearly vindicated. It appears that their action has not only saved their school – relieving us taxpayers of the burden of demolition and rebuilding costs to boot – but has also thrown a spotlight on the competence of those responsible for this mess at CCBC. The disruption and anxiety this must have caused the school and everyone connected to it must be immense – not to mention the one and a half million pounds CCBC has stumped up thus far to relocate the school. One can only wonder how much will now be spent on lawyers as they thrash out who is responsible for all this.
Another fiasco from the Labour run CCBC! £1.4 million pound spent on relocating the school to Ebbw Vale and transporting over 1000 pupils by bus, and what for?? Their commissioned experts get it drastically wrong. Add in the fiasco over the secret 30% pay rises, you get the feeling that they are in power but not in control!!
Pay rises, by the way, that were back dated to August last year and now thanks to the appeasement of the Labour group wont be rescinded until 1st April ! And then only in part.
Thank heavens the chidrens health was not at risk. But why have staff, parents and children had so much worry and inconvenience? I want answers from the council. they were quick to sort out their massive pay rises so I expect the same swift conclusion to this problem.
It must have been political.