Action:

1. 1. Apologies & Welcomes:Apologies: Denise Bertachi (UNISON), Val Andrews (ASCL), Susan Murray (UNITE)
   Welcome: Carolina Fisher now replaces Jacqui O’Neil (ATL), Val Andrews replaces Anna Cole (ASCL) and Dina Smith in place of Donna Buttle (Secretariat)

1. 2. Notes/Actions from 3 July 2013 (plus redacted notes):All notes and completed actions approved.

NG will update on Cheshire when he is able.

Social Media Sub-Committee to meet and report back – ongoing.

NG

1. 3. Matters arising from notes NOT covered elsewhere on this agenda and Chairs Actions from 3 July:No matters arising.

HSE Triennial Review completed and submitted – previously approved by email and circulated.

Response to DfE “What is purpose of DfE Group” submitted – previously approved by email and circulated. No response received.

JDW on behalf of AIS submitted a letter in support of the Asbestos Victims Support Group Forum UK response to Mesothelioma Consultation.

ACTION: JDW to submit JUAC response prior to 01.11.13 (extension to deadline)

JDW

1. 4. JUAC Website:Website is receiving attention with a view to transferring domain and site to server at Pattinson & Brewer. Improvements and repairs planned. NG will assist with reconstituting any documents. Updates to fact sheets, advice sheets etc to be carried out as appropriate.

1. 5. AIS (Environmental Level):Detailed discussion around AIS paper.ACTION: ML to update paper and highlight the fact that AIS/JUAC consider that there is no level below which it is safe to be exposed to asbestos and so ultimately the aim is phased removal of all asbestos from schools but in the short and medium term, an environmental level should be determined by a suitable panel of experts and be applied to schools, together with a suitably practical method of air sampling. The paper should clarify that it covers 2 issues:

(a) An environmental level for schools, and

(b) The case for clearance testing in schools as the correct method of air sampling.

ML

1. 6. Cwmcarn

The AIS/JUAC analysis will be sent to the following with previously approved letters:

David Laws, Minister of Education

Michael Green, Chair – DfE Asbestos in Schools Steering Group

The Chief Scientific Adviser

Graham Stewart, MP and Chair of Education Select Committee

ACTION: ML to prepare letters and enclose final analysis – authority provided by JUAC Chair for electronic signature to be added.

ACTION: ML to copy letters and pdf final analysis to JDW for circulation to JUAC.

The analysis will also be sent to the Shadow Minster for Education and the new Health & Safety Minister (Mick Penning, MP) with a request for a meeting.

ACTION: JDW to draft letters and send.

The analysis will also be sent to the First Miniseter and Minister for Education in Wales.

ACTION: ML/CCE to draft letters – authority provided for JUAC Chair electronic signature to be added.

The analysis will also be sent by JUAC formally to HSE for the attention of Judith Hackett and Kevin Myers expressing AIS/JUAC serious concerns about the HSE Report into Cwmcarn.

ACTION: JDW to draft letter and send.

The analysis will also be sent as a matter of courtesy to Jim Sheridan, Chair APPG and the Chief Executive of Caerphilly Council.

ACTION: JDW to draft letters and send on behalf of JUAC.

ML

ML

JDW

ML/CCE

1. 7. JUAC/AIS Strategy, ATAC and New Shadow Minister

DfE Policy Review – agreed that AIS/JUAC would write to Michael Green (MG) and set out what AIS/JUAC consider that the Review ought to cover.

URGENT ACTION: ML and VM to draft letter/outline and circulate JUAC – to be submitted to MG by 30^th October 2013.

Evidence in support of Review – AIS/JUAC have already submitted extensive evidence to the Education Select Committee and the analysis of the Cwmcarn investigation is vital evidence. We also have a number of survey results that we can rely on. Voice and JUAC have survey results that can be submitted. The NAHT has recently surveyed its membership and will share some of the results.

Agreed – to carry out a further JUAC survey.

ACTION: A sub-committee was formed and agreed to report back, not later than Friday, 1 November 2013 with recommendations

Sub-Committee – VM, SL, DBR, JMcC (and invitation to Dbe).

Discussion about input from other sources.

Agreed: Invite UCAC and ATAC

Insurance:

This must form part of the Government’s Policy Review – the evidence in part comes from answers to Parliamentary questions and from investigations carried out by ML on behalf of AIS. The DfE Asbestos in Schools Steering Group’s response still remains outstanding on this issue – this is of concern to AIS/JUAC.

Training – GMB Pilot in Yorkshire and Derbyshire.

The GMB are applying for funds from Union Learning to develop a distance learning training course for support staff in relation to asbestos awareness training.

It was agreed that, as often, the day-to-day responsibility for the management of asbestos in schools falls to support staff, such as premises managers, that a pilot to develop training appropriate to a person’s role was in principle of interest to JUAC. Agreed to offer assistance and to ask GMB to also invite ATAC to be involved.

1. 8. JUAC Safety Representative Survey

Covered in item 7 above.

1. 9. Incident

ML has been working with NASUWT to advise a parent concerned about asbestos removal work being carried out in a boiler room, which is adjacent to the school playground. The work had been planned for the summer holidays but had not then been carried out. It was this week being carried out in term time. The HSE previously issued guidance that any asbestos work should be done in school holidays. JUAC agreed that the online guidance should include this advice and further that if asbestos removal work had to be carried out as an emergency, then the guidance ought to be that the school is closed. This is plain common sense.

ACTION: AIS/JUAC to write to MG and ask for the online guidance to be amended accordingly.

11. Gas Masks

SL outlined a recent incident in a school when a gas mask was thought to contain asbestos. When subsequently tested, it did contain blue asbestos and was dangerous. ML has researched the subject and liaised with the Imperial War Museum. A warning has been drafted by ML. ML is asking the Imperial War Museum to endorse the warning. Agreed to ask MG to issue warning on behalf of DfE and JUAC.

ACTION: ML to send final version to JDW. JDW to send to MG asking for a response, no later than Friday, 18 October 2013. If no positive response, then JUAC will issue the warning.

ACTION: ML to finalise the advice note for unions to circulate to members.

12. Right to Know

Update by CCE.

Since the Reception in April 2013, the campaign has progressed with representation at UCAC Conference and all JUAC members now supporting the campaign. 10 leading cancer charities have signed up to support the campaign, including Mesothelioma Trust UK and MacMillan Cancer Trust. However, there still remains the issue of who will accept responsibility for asbestos in schools in Wales and the DfE online guidance has still not been adopted in Wales.

ACTION: ML/CCE when drafting letters to First Minister and Minister for Education to highlight these issues.

13. AOB

EWH Conference – written report and update from JMcC.

NG highlighted need to raise awareness in Europe. SM has agreed to try to add JUAC link to European Federation of Wood Workers website.

SL, at the recent Education Conference – Impact of Economic Crisis on Health & Safety in Europe asked for the issue of asbestos in schools to be highlighted at future events.

ML – Ralph Guering and Laurie Kazan-Allen both had good contacts in Europe and we should consider how best to utilise these – this was thought to be an important item but due to lack of time, it was adjourned to next meeting.

Hazards Conference 2013.

NG and JDW attended.

NG – whilst the numbers were down slightly, the conference had been well-received and there were about 20 to 25 at the Asbestos in Schools Information meeting and visitors to the stand. The event was well organised and thought to be an effective way to cascade information about the campaign to active health & safety representatives.

Mesothelioma Trust UK:

JDW attended the Mesothelioma Trust UK Patient & Carers Day 2013. The event was very well organised and informative. The Trust supports specialist mesothelioma nurses in 3 centres of excellence.

Agreed/ACTION: JDW to write to the Trust to explore the possibility of an asbestos in schools survey to collect data about exposure to asbestos in schools.

Laurie and Hank:

JUAC send wishes for a speedy recovery to fellow campaigners and sincere thanks for the sterling work both have undertaken for the asbestos in schools campaign.

Japanese Research:

JMcC made colleagues that he had been approached by Japanese researchers working on the issue of asbestos exposure in the construction industry – little progress is being made in Japan on this issue.

ML

ML/CCE