Almost a quarter of school staff work in buildings with asbestos, a survey by the GMB Union reveals.
Government research shows there are around 5,000 Asbestos-related disease deaths per year, including mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis.
In 2024 alone there were 2,146 Mesothelioma deaths, with a similar estimated number of lung cancer deaths linked to past asbestos exposures.
The organisation polled more than 4,500 teaching assistants, catering staff, caretakers and admin workers this month.
The results have also found that 50% work in buildings with leaky rooves, 27% work in buildings with damp and mould and 44% work in buildings with cracked walls.
The GMB are calling for Ministers to invest in school buildings and children’s futures “like the last Labour Government did”.
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