Health and safety chiefs have ruled the city council took appropriate steps after a significant asbestos breach at an Aberdeen school.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) launched a probe when it emerged that 25 members of staff were allowed into Bridge of Don academy after potentially deadly asbestos was found during works last July.
An apprentice joiner discovered the dangerous substance behind an insulation board and told his supervisor, who wrapped it in plastic and then left it behind a skip.
A further piece of board – still above the door and intact – was covered using a ceiling tile and cardboard.
However, no action was taken to seal off the area and it was five days before a sample was taken.
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Since then, the city council has provided frontline services with “bespoke asbestos training”, priced at £23,000, in order to avoid a similar incident.
A report on the HSE’s findings will go before the city council’s staff governance committee next week.
The report said: “The HSE inspector reported that they were satisfied with the procedures which Aberdeen City Council had in place and any remedial actions taken during their review to prevent a re-occurrence of a similar Bridge of Don-type incident.
“They were also satisfied that the remedial training which had been rolled out to front-line staff was suitable and sufficient to allow staff to have the knowledge to be able to respond correctly in cases where asbestos is discovered or disturbed during their work.
“HSE were also content that the processes to follow in these circumstances were in a step-by-step document, which allowed reference if such an incident occurs.”
Tommy Campbell, regional representative for Unite, said: “The council clearly had to be taught a lesson after the Bridge of Don incident because of the complete breakdown of their policies and procedures.”
City councillor David Cameron added: “The potential dangers of exposure to asbestos cannot be underestimated, and every effort should be made to ensure that there are no repeat incidents at any point in the future.”
