A LENGTHY investigation by the Health and Safety Executive, the 54-page findings of which were published today has concluded that management of materials that contain asbestos at the school is generally good.

And Jane Lassey, the HSE’s head of operations for Wales, said "the presence of asbestos alone should not be a cause for concern if it is properly managed."

The school closed early last October amid fears that pupils' health was at risk from asbestos fibres.

Its 900 pupils had to be found places at other schools, and after several weeks they were settled into lessons at Coleg Gwent's Ebbw Vale campus, more than 12 miles away.

Since then, the school has been subject to a series of investigations on behalf of Caerphilly council and the school's governors, and disagreements have arisen about the school's future, how to proceed with making it safe if it were to continue to run, and where the responsibility lies for making it safe.

The HSE investigation has taken into account reports published by others, the results of tests conducted by the Health and Safety Laboratory, and the findings of its own investigation.

“We have concluded that the occupied areas of the school are essentially uncontaminated and that there is no evidence of elevated airborne asbestos fibre levels being released from the ceiling voids," said Mrs Lassey.

“Asbestos is present in many public buildings. The presence of asbestos alone should not be a cause for concern if it is properly managed. Asbestos which is in poor condition, or which is likely to be damaged or disturbed, should be sealed to contain the fibres, enclosed, or removed.

“There is a legal duty to manage asbestos to prevent or minimise the release of airborne fibres. HSE’s investigation found that the management of asbestos containing materials at the school is generally good. While we have given the governors advice on formally recording some procedures, our inspectors found nothing that warrants further action.

“Decisions about how to manage the asbestos present at Cwmcarn are for the governors and the council, who are legally responsible for ensuring that staff and children are not at risk.

The HSE, Britain's national regulator for workplace health and safety, had given commitments to both the school and its governors to release its report to them.

But Mrs Lassey added: "Given the wider interest this issue has generated, we are publishing the report so that all parties are clear on HSE’s position, and there is no room for misinterpretation.”

The full report is available at www.hse.gov.uk