Tasmanian school closures escalate as 40+ sites shut amid asbestos sand recall
More than 40 public schools across Tasmania will close or partially close from Wednesday, the Department has confirmed, amid the asbestos coloured sand saga. SEE THE FULL LIST
More than 40 public schools across Tasmania will close or partially close from Wednesday, the Department has confirmed, as they work to clean the schools of any toxic coloured sand.
The Department for Education Children and Young People say they have undertaken an urgent audit of all government school, Child and Family Learning Centres and libraries, to determine the use of the sand throughout these sites.
“As a result of this audit it has been determined that there will be a number of schools who will need to close tomorrow or undertake a partial closure. This is based on those schools having learning areas which have been exposed to the recalled sand in the last seven days,” the department confirmed late on Tuesday.
“The Department are working with these schools to rectify and undertake the required cleaning to allow the sites to reopen as soon as possible.”
As of 5pm Tuesday, a total of 30 schools will fully close from Wednesday, with 13 partially closed.
The list of schools will be updated as they are cleaned and sites reopened.
For an up-to-date https://www.decyp.tas.gov.au/about-us/alerts/
EARLIER: The head of the teachers’ union has urged the state government to deliver clear messaging on the toxic sand recall, warning mixed responses across school sectors were leaving parents, teachers and students worried and confused.
“It doesn’t matter whether you are a government funded school or an independent school, the message should be the same,” Australian Education Union Tasmania branch head David Genford said.
“We are calling for the state government to identify which classrooms the sand has been used in and to close those classrooms and make sure they’re thoroughly cleaned before they are reopened.
“We understand that there is low risk, but any risk to our students and to our workers is unacceptable.
“We need to make sure that if this sand has been used, that the classrooms need to be closed, and if there’s no other rooms to be relocated to, that the schools are closed.”
While an audit has been announced by state education minister Jo Palmer, Mr Genford said action could have come sooner.
“The recall from the ACCC came out last Thursday,” he said.
“I think (state Education Minister Jo Palmer) could have released a statement that made it clear to all schools what needs to be done.
“Hopefully we can reflect and make sure anything like this in future is acted on in a quicker fashion.”
State Labor leader Josh Willie echoed calls for greater transparency but stopped short of calling for school closures.
“In Tasmania we’ve got different responses from different sectors, and that warrants further questions,” he said.
The Department for Education, Children and Young People posted on Facebook that no school or site closures had occurred at this stage.
“While the risk is low, we’re monitoring the situation carefully and working closely with all schools, CFLCs, libraries, the childcare sector, and Work Safe Tasmania,” the post said.
Letters to parents, sighted by The Mercury, from at least two Hobart public schools confirm the product had been used in some parts of the schools and that they were following WorkSafe Tasmania advice.
Catholic Education Tasmania spokesperson said there was no firm timeframes for when spaces would be available again.
“We wanted to reassure out communities that work is progressing,” they said.
“We are working closely with WorkSafe Tasmania and following their advice.”
Two other schools have also been partially closed from Wednesday, November 19 until further notice; Dominic College and John Paul II Kindergarten to Grade 2 classes.
The following schools have been impacted until further notice:
Full closures
Corpus Christi Catholic School, Bellerive; Sacred Heart Catholic School, Geeveston; St Brigid’s Catholic School, Wynyard; St John’s Catholic School, Richmond; St Peter Chanel Catholic School, Smithton; St Cuthbert’s Catholic School, Lindisfarne; Northern Christian School
Partial closures
The Friends’ School has closed its Argyle St Campus; The Hutchins School has shut its Early Learning Centre and Junior School; St Michael’s Collegiate School Early Learning Centre, Junior School and Outside School Hours Care; Sacred Heart College, New Town (K-5 closed); St Aloysius Catholic College, Kingston (K-4 closed); Immaculate Heart Catholic School, Lenah Valley (Kinder and Prep); John Paul II Catholic School Rokeby (K-2 closed); Dominic College Glenorchy (K-2 closed); St Thomas More’s Catholic School Newstead (Kinder-Prep closed)
Education Minister responds to toxic sand fears
The Tasmanian government has responded to toxic sand fears that has closed some private campuses, while public schools remain open.
Education Minister Jo Palmer said an audit was underway of all state schools following the ACCC’s recall of several coloured sand products that may contain naturally occurring asbestos.
“The advice from the Federal Department of Health is that the health risk is low and that respirable asbestos fibres have not been detected, however we are taking a proactive approach,” Ms Palmer said.
The audit is set to include all government schools, libraries and Child and Family Learning Centres — and it will determine the use of sand throughout these sites.
Ms Palmer said an accredited asbestos assessor was assisting the situation.
“All schools and CFLCs have been provided with the appropriate advice around what to do if they find sand, including isolating areas if the sand has been used.”
She said schools and learning centres would continue to communicate with parents as the situation progresses.
She sent assurances the situation was being closely monitored.
The Department of Children and Young People is liaising with the childcare sector, Ms Palmer said.
The Department’s current advice to schools and other sites, in line with health and safety requirements is:
*If the sand is unopened – sealed and secured – remove in accordance with guidelines.
*If the sand has been used – isolate the area and do not use that area.
*If the area can’t be isolated -relocate the students and staff to another area.
*The Department will then work with schools to facilitate the required treatment, and to ensure the appropriate action is taken.
Earlier, Labor leader Josh Willie called on the Education Minister Jo Palmer to step up to provide clarity on the government’s response to asbestos sand in schools in a statement on Tuesday morning.
“There is a notable discrepancy in the advice being given to parents, students and education staff across public, private and catholic schools. While potentially affected sand is present in all three systems, school closures are primarily occurring in private and catholic schools,” Mr Willie said.
Three more private schools close campuses over fears
Tuesday morning: Three more private independent schools will close campuses after being impacted by the recall of a popular coloured sand believed to maybe contain tremolite asbestos.
The Friends’ School has closed its Argyle St Campus, The Hutchins School has shut its Early Learning Centre and Junior School and St Michael’s Collegiate School Early Learning Centre, Junior School and Outside School Hours Care will also be closed to students on Tuesday.
This comes as Southern Waste Solutions has offered to waive disposal fees for any kinetic sand products suspected of containing asbestos.
SWS chief executive Nick Gifford said while the risk was low, people were urged to take precautions when handling and disposing of recalled products.
“We recognise the stress and anxiety this recall has prompted. We are waiving fees for disposal of affected products through the Lutana Resource Recovery Centre to remove any cost burden and incentivise safe disposal of recalled kinetic sand,” Mr Gifford said.
“Don’t throw the product in your household bin as improperly disposed of asbestos increases risks of exposure to waste collection drivers and landfill operators.
“People should wear disposable gloves and a mask and either seal kinetic sand in its original tub or double bag it in heavy-duty plastic and seal it with tape.”
The Friends’ School posted on social media that students and staff of FEL, primary and middle schools were asked to stay at home until further notice.
“The temporary closure allows us to complete precautionary cleaning, review and safety checks relating to these materials,” the post said.
“We want to reassure you from the outset that current national guidance considers the health risk to be low, and that respirable asbestos fibres have not been detected in any tested samples.”
In a letter to parents, The Hutchins School confirmed the temporary closure would allow the school to complete precautionary cleaning, review and safety checks relating to these materials.
On Monday evening, Tasmania’s Department of Education said no public schools, learning centres or libraries were closed over the product recall.
Earlier: Six Tasmanian Catholic schools will be shut on Tuesday “until further notice” and three others impacted over fears a popular coloured sand may contain asbestos.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission found Kadink decorative sand may contain tremolite asbestos, a naturally occurring asbestos.
The product has been pulled from the shelves of retail stores and also shut down more than 100 schools nationally.
On Monday evening, Catholic Education Tasmania confirmed three schools were partially closed and six totally shut from Tuesday, November 18 until further notice.
Partial closures are: Sacred Heart College, New Town (K-5 closed); St Aloysius Catholic College, Kingston (K-4 closed); Immaculate Heart Catholic School, Lenah Valley (Kinder and Prep).
The following schools have full closures: Corpus Christi Catholic School, Bellerive; Sacred Heart Catholic School, Geeveston; St Brigid’s Catholic School, Wynyard; St John’s Catholic School, Richmond; St Peter Chanel Catholic School, Smithton; St Cuthbert’s Catholic School, Lindisfarne.
Catholic Education Tasmania’s statement said they had worked with schools to identify and isolate any affected products and licensed professionals would undertake the removal, testing and cleaning in all affected schools.
Executive director Dr Gerard Gaskin said they were working to resolve the situation quickly and safely.
“While expert advice indicates the risk to our students and staff is very low, we are taking every precaution to ensure our school environments remain safe,” he said.
“Our communities can be confident that we are acting quickly, carefully and in alignment with professional guidance.”
The Tasmanian Department of Education, who does not cover Catholic or Independent schools but is understood to be working closely with relevant heads, confirmed no public education sites were closed as a result.
A department spokesperson said a safety alert was issued to schools, children and family learning centres and libraries around this issue on Friday and that they were working with those sites regarding the recalled sand products.
“The Department is working closely with relevant authorities,” the spokesperson said.
Originally published as Tasmanian school closures escalate as 40+ sites shut amid asbestos sand recall
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