Asbestos News

According to a Worcestershire, UK County Council spokesman, the asbestos in a former Kidderminster school building will be removed prior to its demolition, the Kidderminster Shuttle reports.

The spokesman added that the council had always known that asbestos was sealed inside the old Offmore Primary School building and that there would be no health risks to students or nearby residents during the removal process.

He said that the council had not been able to conduct a full test of the asbestos quantity until the building had been completely emptied.

"This survey has now been completed and we can begin removing the material, which will be finished before the building can be demolished," the spokesman said. "The removal, which we expect to take around five weeks, will be carried out by a contractor licensed by the Health and Safety Executive."

According to the spokesman for the council, students will attend a temporary school while the asbestos abatement process is completed.

It is important that asbestos be properly removed prior to demolition work as exposure to the deadly material can cause a range of serious illnesses including asbestosis, lung cancer and malignant mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer.