Asbestos was discovered over the weekend at a school in the United States; it was found in the flooring of the school’s gym and has caused the gym to be closed to both students and staff. Although tests have shown that the air in and around the gym are clean the matter is still being taken very seriously.
The discovery of asbestos at schools is not something America only struggles with; it is a major problem worldwide and Australia is no stranger to this issue. Only recently John McDonald a victim of the asbestos related cancer mesothelioma has said he contracted the disease due to exposure to asbestos he experienced while attending Wagin High School in Western Australia.
Only a few years before this claim, in 2010 Albion North primary school in Melbourne was locked down due to the discovery of asbestos in a pile of rubble on school grounds. The removal of asbestos from all Australian schools are said to be the top priority in the Australian Government’s nationwide plan to make Australia asbestos free by the year 2030.
This plan is an important proposal for Australia as we have the highest incidence of asbestos related diseases, including the cancer mesothelioma, and asbestosis. The removal of all asbestos from Australian schools will ensure the safety of children and staff. In the past, there have been Australian asbestos compensation claims where the person seeking compensation said they were exposed to asbestos at an Australian school.
