Fifteen public schools in Canberra and one school in Brisbane are closed today, with several others partially closed, due to asbestos contamination in decorative coloured sand sold at dozens of stores across Australia.
The risk relates to decorative coloured sand found this week to contain traces of chrysotile—a type of naturally occurring asbestos.
Earlier this week, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) issued a recall notice for Kadink Sand, Educational Colours Rainbow Sand and Creatistics Coloured Sand after laboratory testing detected asbestos.
ACT Education Minister Yvette Berry said Kadink Decorative Sand was used in some Canberra schools for sensory play and arts and craft, leading to the closure of 15 public schools and partial closure of several others.
“WorkSafe ACT have advised the risk of exposure to traces of chrysotile is low, however the safety of students, staff and families is our highest priority,” Ms Berry said.
In Brisbane’s west, Mancel College announced it would close its campus for the day “effective immediately” after finding the sand product at its junior and senior school.
The specialist school delivers education for children and young people with language disorders.
In a statement posted to social media, the college said it was advising parents to make arrangements to collect their children.
“Students currently on site will be kept away from any impacted area until collected by parents … in the interim, we have followed guidelines and quarantined the products,” the statement said.
Indooroopilly Outside School Hours Care (IOSHC) in Brisbane has also alerted parents to the use of the decorative sand as part of their after-school programme.
However, IOSHC remains open.
“We would love to assure families that all remaining products and craft containing this product, has been removed from the service,” a safety notice sent to parents said.
Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WHSQ) said, based on current information, as a precaution, any materials or areas impacted should be isolated, and people should “avoid sweeping, shovelling, vacuuming or disturbing any sand”.
The ABC has contacted the Queensland Education Department to find out if any other schools in the state are affected.
Meanwhile, the Victorian Department of Education (VDE) and the NSW Department of Education both confirmed no schools were closed in the two states.
“Advice from the Department of Health and ACCC is [that] the health risk from use of these products is low,” a VDE spokesperson said.
“As such, there is no indication of a need to close schools or early childhood services at this time.
“We are working swiftly to identify any schools and early childhood services that may be using the recalled products and will then support them to follow the remediation advice from relevant authorities.”
The New South Wales Education Department said a safety alert had been sent to all of its public schools to immediately and safely remove these sand products if they have them.
