The danger of blackboards

Taken from IOSH's discussion fora:

Question:
I would be grateful if anyone could advise me on any restrictions on the use of traditional blackboards and chalk.
Obviously there may be an issue over chalk dust and people with breathing difficulties.
I know that blackboards and chalk are freely available, with some additional control measures such as "Liquid Chalk and Anti Dust Chalk" products also on the market.

Responses:

• Are you aware that Traditional Blackboards are made of asbestos and if damaged or used to pin display items on may constitute a risk
  
• Anyway a COSHH assessment should be performed and the risk to the teacher etc. should be assessed. If you have asthma or other lung condition it would be aggravated by the chalk (it could potentially start a lung condition). If you have a skin condition it could be aggravated etc.
  
• Lets ban the use of chalk just to be on the safe side
  
• that should be "Chalk Board". We are no longer allowed to call them "Black Boards" so the title is even more controversial. His lungs will; be lined with a coating of chalk dust so no other dust will affect him. Therefore no PPE requirements
  
• Board chalk is not calcium carbonate (which is chalk in the geological sense - see white cliffs of Dover) but calcium sulphate which, as far as I can recall has not been been subject to any OEL other than total inhalable dust (10 mg m-3) and respirable dust (4 mg m-3). Calcium sulphate is practically inert and the health hazards should be minimal. I would be very surprised if either inhalable or respirable dust got anywhere near the 8-hour limits although peak exposures could be highish when banging two board rubbers together, I suppose.
  
• Oh my god!!! Now we have actually hit the lowest point of the lowest point. If the press got hold of this thread I shudder to think what the general public would make of it. You are right this isn't a conkers bonkers story - this is infinitely worse. Chalk dust has never (never never) been a cause of serious injury in the classroom. The teacher throwing the board rubber at unruly children has been though! Is this a total wind-up or is MarkSmark trading under another name?
  
• At first i thought it was a wind up, however I have assured the faculty that presented the query of the low risk rating, with control measures such as the use of liquid chalk, anti dust chalk, full gas tight suits and an air filteration system with 2000 airline breathing appartus sets for all students on the campus!
  
• You asked about restrictions. I am only aware of past local education authority and school policies to replace this form of communication and an earlier instruction to refer to blackboards as 'chalkboards' for reasons of political correctness. At my old school, in addition to the official wooden duster being used as a missile for the inattentive, I can remember the long black sleeves of the masters' gowns being used as dusters (presumably because the wooden ones had been removed or hidden) and chalk dust being fairly widespread on floors and clothing by the end of the day. However, whilst considering the potential hazards from chalk we should also take the possible benefits into account as I suspect that the chemical constituents would have been useful in bone development and helping to prevent osteoprosis.