Collective Legal Action Escalates Against Asbestos in Marseille Schools

On November 19, a coalition of parents, teachers, territorial agents, unions, and associations filed a collective complaint at the public health prosecutor's office in Marseille, accusing unknown parties of "deliberately endangering the lives of others" due to asbestos hazards in schools. This legal action represents a significant escalation in the fight against the persistent presence of carcinogenic asbestos fibers in public school buildings built before their 1997 ban, particularly affecting schools, colleges, and high schools throughout France.

Among those spearheading this lawsuit are professors Jane-Laure Roger and Tristan Navailh-Hamza of Alexandre-Dumas college in Marseille's 14th arrondissement. Their fight has spanned 18 months, with initial actions including a right of withdrawal from work in May 2024 to alert authorities and the public to the health risks posed by asbestos in their school environment. Approximately fifty members of the educational community in the Bouches-du-Rhône department are involved in this collective legal effort.

The complaint aims not only to compel public authorities to take necessary measures but also to break the longstanding denial about the asbestos dangers in French public buildings. This mobilization in Marseille serves as a catalyst, encouraging similar actions across France to ensure safer school environments free from the carcinogenic risks of asbestos exposure.