FOI

 

Request

Please can you answer the following questions relating to asbestos in Jersey States-run schools? The first two questions relate to quotes made by the Treasury and Resource Minister in 2014 in the States (Source included).

"JPH classifies properties depending on the annual inspection report overall property score and takes the appropriate management action. The scoring methodology is set out below. There are no high risk ACMs in publicly accessible areas.

• cumulative score 10 to 12 - This is allocated to those items requiring urgent attention as they currently, or in the foreseeable future, present an unacceptable risk. High risk

• cumulative score 7 to 9 - These are items which as single entities have a high risk of being damaged / disturbed or where there is an accumulation of asbestos materials in a single location that when examined as a whole have a high risk of being damaged / disturbed. Medium risk

• cumulative score 5 to 6 - These are items that have no, or very little, sign of historical damage and are usually board or panels, which are not easily accessed. Low risk

• cumulative score 4 or less - This covers asbestos cement, resins, Artex, plastics, rubber etc. containing asbestos, which do not generally present a significant risk. Very low risk. "

Written question to Minister of Treasury and Resources by Deputy Hilton tabled for 3 June 2018

A

Which schools managed by Jersey Property Holdings (JPH) currently hold the highest Cumulative score? Please list top five with scores included.

"The costs of removing all the known asbestos containing materials (ACMs) from the property portfolio are estimated to be in the region of approximately £3 million and would cause extensive disruption to the property users due to the locality of the ACMs. In certain circumstances this would involve the usage of temporary classrooms and additional costs above the cost of removal. Therefore the decision has been made to manage the ACMs through stringent documentation and procedures and to remove only as part of any refurbishment or redevelopment plans."

Written question to Minister of Treasury and Resources by Deputy Hilton tabled for 3 June 2018

B

What is the updated cost of removing all known ACM's from the property portfolio?

C

How many States run schools have failed to comply with asbestos legislation in Jersey?

D

How many schools managed by JPH have been prosecuted for failing to comply? If so please detail fines and penalties.

E

Can you breakdown offences ie no training or no asbestos management plan etc.

F

How often are schools inspected by the Health and Safety Inspectorate?

G

When was the last time these inspections took place?

Response

A

The following table details the five schools with the highest cumulative score based on the 2018 re-inspection and management surveys. All scores fall into Medium Risk Category

Please note that work has already been carried out to remove asbestos containing materials at Plat Douet Primary School, Victoria College De Carteret Building and Victoria College Science Block since these inspections were carried out.

Current scoring criteria:

Please note that the risk scoring criteria has changed since 2014, the up to date algorithms are shown below.

Each identified asbestos material can have a risk rating of up to 24. This risk rating algorithm is calculated by combining the material assessment and priority algorithms shown below. The cumulative score is a total of the risk assessment figures for each asbestos material identified in each school.

Material assessment algorithm

The material assessment algorithm is determined by adding four category scores which cover – Product Type; Extent of Damage / Deterioration; Surface Treatments; Asbestos Type.

Priority assessment algorithm

The priority assessment algorithm averages the following four factors to give a maximum score of 12.

I. Normal occupant activity and likelihood of disturbance

II. Likelihood of disturbance based on location, accessibility and amount of material

III. Human exposure potential based on number of occupants, frequency of use and average time of use

IV. Maintenance activity

Risk assessment algorithm:

The total score is then compared against the following criteria and reviewed alongside the recommendations of the surveying company.

B

It is not possible to provide an accurate or budget cost to remove all known asbestos containing materials (ACMs) from the property portfolio within the 12.5 hour limit, since there are so many variables.

We estimate that to locate, retrieve and extract the information in reference to your request would exceed the cost limit provisions allowed under article 16 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 and the 12.5 hours maximum allowed under regulation 2 (1) of the Freedom of Information (Costs) (Jersey) Regulations 2014.

C

None of the schools have failed to comply with asbestos legislation in Jersey.

D

See response to question C above.

E

There have been no offences.

F

It is not the role of the Health and Safety Inspectorate (HSI) to undertake regular or routine inspections of schools and as such no schools have been inspected by the HSI.

G

As per F above, the HSI does not undertake such routine or regular inspections in schools.

Article applied

Article 16 A scheduled public authority may refuse to supply information if cost excessive

(1) A scheduled public authority that has been requested to supply information may refuse to supply the information if it estimates that the cost of doing so would exceed an amount determined in the manner prescribed by Regulations.

Regulation 2 (1) of the Freedom of Information (Costs) (Jersey) Regulations 2014 allows an authority to refuse a request for information where the estimated cost of dealing with the request would exceed the specified amount of the cost limit of £500. This is the estimated cost of one person spending 12.5 working hours in determining whether the department holds the information, locating, retrieving and extracting the information.