WATCH: 'Negligible risk' during Nairn Academy asbestos incident

An asbestos incident at Nairn Academy last week does not have to be reported to the health and safety watchdog.

The parents of school kids have been told ‘there was negligible risk to pupils and staff.’

Reassurance came after MFR News yesterday revealed that a letter had been sent to parents last week to explain why areas had been closed off to pupils and teachers.

The letter said: 'Over the Easter Break, workmen were removing moss from the roof. This work has resulted in small quantities of dust appearing in a number of rooms.

'Concern was raised on Monday the 16th of April that this dust might have asbestos it it and as a precaution the rooms were locked and testing of the dust was organised.

'Unfortunately the school was incorrectly advised that the woodwork area could be used.

'Air testing and swab testing were carried out on Monday and confirmation later received that the air tests were satisfactory, however, the swab tests dust did contain small quantities of Chrysotile (White Asbestos).'

The correspondence sparked fear and fury from parents on social media, reacting to the revelation that pupils and teachers had potentially been exposed to the harmful substance in a workroom for two days before it was shut as a precaution, which we reported yesterday:

Last night in an official post on the school's Facebook page it was explained: 'The chrysotile (white asbestos) that was found originated from small fragments of roof ceiling paint coating that had fallen and settled on surfaces, samples from dust were found not to contain asbestos.

'All affected surfaces were environmentally cleaned.

'The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has been informed and has advised today that the incident is not reportable under RIDDOR - Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 due to the negligible risk present to health and safety.'

THE LATEST STATEMENT FROM THE SCHOOL: