Student moved out after asbestos found
A finalist at Wadham was moved out of her room during the vacation due to a disruption of dangerous asbestos. The student, Antonia Fitzpatrick, situated on the front quad, had been given permission to study in college over the holiday before being forced to evacuate her accommodation in 10th week.
Despite a college spokesperson stated, “it was only white asbestos, it isn’t harmful”, the HSE (Health and Safety Executive) have confirmed that it is a major health hazard, telling The Oxford Student: “All asbestos can cause cancer and the vast bulk of scientific evidence in the UK and abroad regards the risk from white asbestos as proven.” The college failed to inform the student of the risk posed by the asbestos and was late in removing her from the room.
Fitzpatrick told said, “The asbestos men simply turned up and remarked that I wasn’t supposed to be around and that I should have been told to move already.” While the college refuses to acknowledge on the potential risks that the asbestos caused, HSE are concerned by the evident lack of caution. A spokesperson from HSE remarked, “This is not good, something should have been done to prevent the student from being there”.
Under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations of 1995 (RIDDOR), the college was compelled to report the asbestos to the Incidental Contact Centre. Yet evacuation procedures were poorly organised and may have resulted in student exposure to a dangerous substance. A college spokesperson refused to comment on the risks posed by the incident simply stating that ‘It’s now fine’.
20th Apr 2006