December 1st, 2006

A school headmaster from the UK claimed that he was unaware that asbestos was hazardous to health after being accused of exposing his students and staff to the potentially deadly material. Asbestos is a known carcinogenic, and can cause a range of serious health problems through exposure, including an asbestos related cancer known as mesothelioma.

Fifty year-old Philip Robinson, from Derby in the UK, stated that he was not aware of the dangers of asbestos, and denies that he therefore failed to ensure that safety and health of his students and staff.

According to the reports the school at which he worked had undergone window replacement in 2004, but failed to disclose that asbestos had been found during testing in the area where work was being carried out.

Staff claimed that it was only after works had been completed that they found out about the discovery of asbestos, by which time contamination had already occurred. The former headmaster was prosecuted by the UK’s Health and Safety Executive, accused of violating the Health and Safety at Work Act.