Council condemned over risk to children
Thursday 12 August 2010
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EmailEducation support workers' union Unison slated leaders of a London borough council on Thursday for their "staggering" failure to reduce health risks to school staff and children.
A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation into the possible presence of asbestos and legionella bacteria in four schools in the north-east London borough of Waltham Forest found that the council had no plans to deal with the risk of exposure to pupils.
Unison local health and safety officer Bill Palmer explained that "this has been coming for some time.
"Waltham Forest schools have been allowed to scrimp and save on health and safety and it is no surprise to see the council being criticised," he said.
Unison convener Su Manning added that "it is quite staggering that this situation should arise at a time when the government is planning to deregulate health and safety further and reduce the number of HSE inspections.
"This will only serve to let employers get away with not treating health and safety at work seriously even more," she warned.
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