Health and Safety

There are many working environments where hazardous substances can be found in various forms. This includes schools, which can be home to a wide variety of hazardous substances. It is not just areas such as chemistry labs in schools that house these substances – they can also be found in many other areas of the school as they are used for a wide variety of purposes such as cleaning and carrying out decorating and repairs at the facility.

Asbestos is a natural fibre that has been used extensively in the construction industry. In the 1990’s it’s detrimental health effects began to come to mainstream attention which led to more education around its negative effects.

For the majority of the 20^th century, the dangers of asbestos were not known. During this time, it was often used in buildings for insulation, flooring, roofing and was sprayed on ceilings and walls. Many buildings that were constructed prior to 2000 may have asbestos in them.