More than 100 QLD schools report possible asbestos exposures

There have been 160 ‘asbestos exposure incidents’ in 100 Queensland public schools in the past four years, with three of those schools lodging more than five incidents. See the full list of affected schools:

New figures released by the state governemnt reveal more than 100 schools have reported potential exposure to asbestos between 2019-2022, with some recording multiple incidents.

More than 160 potential exposures to deadly asbestos have been reported across more than 100 Queensland schools in the past four years, including one which recorded six different incidents.

The figures, which record when someone was potentially exposed to asbestos containing material, show 19 exposures recorded across the state’s schools in 2019, 88 in 2020, 58 in 2021 and 46 in 2022.

Not all incidents were confirmed asbestos exposure cases.

Several schools reported multiple potential exposures from 2019-2022.

The worst affected were Beaudesert State High School with six reported incidents, Middle Park and Sunnybank State Schools which each reported five incidents, and Leichhardt State School with four incidents.

More than 30 schools reported multiple possible exposures in the four year period.

The new figures were released by Industrial Relations Minister Grace Grace following a question on notice by Opposition Education spokesman and LNP MP Dr Christian Rowan, asked amid concerns over potential exposures as schools and transparency around them.

Education Minister Grace Grace said it was “not uncommon for asbestos to be found in Queensland schools built before the 1990s”.

““The number of potential asbestos exposures is always concerning, however it is important to note that not all records in the database are confirmed cases,” she said.

“The Department of Education has a comprehensive program for the safe management and removal of asbestos across our schools.”

In state government has allocated another $108m across four years, starting with the 2022-23 financial year, for the removal of low-density asbestos fibre boards.

There have reportedly been 89 workcover claims associated with asbestos in the four year period.

Of these, 86 were notification only where no injury was incurred.

Three were accepted claims for workers’ compensation for asbestos-related illnesses due to historical exposure.

The figures arrived amid ongoing concern about the level of asbestos being found in state school buildings.

In February 2023, an asbestos scare forced the temporary closure of heritage-listed Ashgrove State School in Brisbane.

The fibre was discovered during construction works for a new outdoor learning centre, understood to be near classrooms.

In late 2020, Sunnybank State High School teachers and students were reportedly exposed after contractors installing airconditioning penetrated the walls and ceiling in a building known to contain asbestos.

New figures released by the state government following a Question on Notice from LNP MP Dr Christian Rowan reveal more than 100 of the state’s schools have reported possible asbestos exposures in the past four years. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Josh Woning

Some teachers were reportedly writing their names in the dust left on desks unaware it could contain the material.

The state government revealed in April 2022 it had spent $2.6m removing asbestos from the Sunnybank school.

An electrician who completed works at Queensland state schools for more than a decade said QBuild, now known as Building and Asset Services, was strict on managing asbestos.

“Every state school in the Mackay region apart from the newly built Mackay Northern Beaches State High School would have asbestos,” he said.

“As a tradesperson, you have to treat all fibrous material as asbestos unless proven otherwise.”

‘IT ONLY TAKES ONE FIBRE OF ASBESTOS TO F--K YOU’

He recalled a serious incident at Pioneer State High School where a classroom ceiling containing asbestos was dislodged or fell and the building was shut down until a specialised asbestos removal crew could come in over the school holidays.

The electrician said the Department of Education would strategically schedule any repairs, upgrades or renovation works over school holidays to avoid exposing students to asbestos, adding any exposure, when they did happen, were “freak” accidents and not a result of negligence.

He said these asbestos removal works were a full-blown operation requiring negative air pressure systems, and three-step showers in and out of the work site.

Middle Park State School was one of several schools to report multiple potential asbestos exposure incidents between 2019-2022, new figures released by the state government reveal.

He explained workers essentially stripped down at each shower to ensure they were completely asbestos free when leaving the work environment.

“Everybody had bloody asbestos suits to get in, and you had to be fully suited up with masks, head covers, and boot covers,” he said.

The electrician said tradespersons had been well versed on the dangers of asbestos exposure after the potentially lethal material was outlawed in December 2003.

“It’s like one in 20 people are affected if they’re exposed to asbestos,” he said.

“It only takes one fibre of asbestos to f--k you.

“If it does, it gets into your lungs, causes scar tissue, and that damaged tissue accelerates in growth to the point you could not absorb oxygen into your lungs.”

When asked if parents should be worried their children were attending schools with asbestos in the ceilings, walls, and soffits, he said they need not worry as you needed a broken surface to release the hazardous material.

“You need to put a screw in a wall, hit it with a hammer, or stab it with a knife to release fibres,” he explained.

Dr Rowan said the government’s handling of asbestos in schools was “extremely concerning”.

“Monthly public reporting of asbestos incident sample testing is schools was secretly abandoned in 2021,” he said.

“Parents and teachers are now expected to wait every six months for this important information and then it is buried in an excel spreadsheet with more than half a million lines of data and more than 12 million data points.

“This state Labor government must take this issue seriously and be open, honest and transparent to ensure student and teacher safety.”

Gympie LNP MP Tony Perrett shared Dr Rowan’s concerns, particularly around the level of information available.

“The reported incident at Chatsworth State School occurred in 2019, and it’s disappointing that no one appears to know anything about it,” Mr Perrett said.