Information for second-level teachers in Ireland.
Asbestos
The Safety Health & Welfare at Work (Exposure to Asbestos) Regulations 2006 were signed into law on 21 July, 2006 (amended in 2010). The Regulations impose a duty on employers to ensure that no employee is exposed to an airborne concentration of asbestos in excess of 0.1 fibres per cm (to the power of these) as an eight-hour time-weighted average.
o Where ASTI members have concerns regarding risk or potential risk from asbestos exposure at school, this should be raised in the first instance with the school principal and if necessary, the Board of Management. ASTI should be contacted if the issue is not satisfactorily resolved or for advice. School Employers are required by law to assess any asbestos risk to the health of staff and must lay down any measures necessary to deal with any risk. o Before any refurbishment or construction work is carried out which might involve the disturbance of or damage to asbestos, the school must get appropriate expert advice and must inform the Health & Safety Authority.
Full information must be provided to all staff regarding any risk or potential risk. The Department of Education assists and advises schools in dealing with the asbestos problems that may arise.
The full set of regulations is available on the Health & Safety Authority website.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the questions we get asked the most here.
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Frequently Asked Questions on Safety, Health and Welfare in Schools
What are the employer’s duties with regard to staff welfare? According to section 8.1 of the 2005 Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, employers have a legal duty to their staff to “ensure, so far as it is reasonably practicable, the... Read more
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