Accident Causes Asbestos Scare for Yorkshire Students

Yorkshire Evening Post

Students at a Harrogate School in Yorkshire had to be decontaminated after being showered by asbestos.

Six students, one member of staff and an ambulance service worker were affected after a student punched a hole in the ceiling at Harrogate High School on Wednesday.

They were kept in isolation while they changed clothes and showered.

Another 14 students who were nearby were also asked to change their clothes, which were checked for asbestos fibres.

Crews from Yorkshire Ambulance Service and North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service attended the scene.

Yorkshire Ambulance Service director of operations Vince Larvin said no-one was injured in the incident.

He said: "We were in the fortunate position that our crews are extremely well trained around the area of contamination.

"We were able to contain the area and minimise the impact and any further contamination, along with our colleagues in the fire service."

Consultant head teacher Paul Lowry said the clothes of the 14 students had been checked as an extra precaution.

He said: "The rules are nowadays that even if it is low grade asbestos, these youngsters have to go through decontamination which actually means that they change clothes and have a shower."