Mancel College closed ‘with immediate effect’ after play sand found to contain traces of chrysotile asbestos

A Brisbane school has closed “with immediate effect” and a childcare giant has placed its 200 centres on alert, following a horror discovery in commonly used play sand.

A Brisbane school which takes students with language disorders has been closed for the day due to asbestos contamination fears.

Mancel College in Fig Tree Pocket announced it would close “with immediate effect” following a national recall of “kinetic’’ play sand. Fifteen Canberra schools have also fully closed.

Parents collect their children from Mancel College following the announcement of its closure on Friday.

“We have reviewed the guidance published by the ACCC (consumer watchdog the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission) regarding a recall notice of a coloured sand used in sensory play activities,” the school said in a statement.

“We have some of the product on site at Mancel College and it has been used in some of the junior school (areas). We have now found some in the senior school.

The asbestos product recall image, posted on Mancel College website.

“While the advice is low risk and there are only minor traces, we are acting with an abundance of caution.”

Language Disorder Australia, which operates Mancel College, was contacted for comment.

Childcare giant Goodstart Early Learning, which owns more than 200 locations across the state, said they instructed all its centres to check for and remove any coloured sand products.

“Centre teams have received advice on how to do this safely while we seek additional expert advice on next steps,” a spokesman said.

“We understand the products involved are sold through a variety of merchants and urge all parents to also check their homes for the products and follow the advice on how to safely remove them.”

Chief health officer Dr Catherine McDougall said the risk of any asbestos being found in the toy then becoming airborne or fine enough to inhale was low.

Queensland Health has been advised the release of extremely fine asbestos fibres from the sand was unlikely unless the sand was crushed or pulverised by a machine.

“While the risk is low, our priority is the health and safety of Queenslanders, and we want to take every possible precaution,” Dr McDougall said.

“If you have any of the identified products at home, stop the use of these products, contain them and place them in double heavy-duty plastic bags and secure the bags’ opening using tape.

“Keep this product out of reach of children and store it safely until it can be disposed of appropriately.”

G8 Education, which owns more than 50 early childcare centres across Queensland, said they acted immediately to remove all coloured sand products as a precautionary measure.

“G8 Education is closely monitoring updates from regulatory authorities and will continue to respond as a priority to any potential risks to our children, families, and team members,” a spokesman said.

The Kadink Decorative Sand was recalled after it was found to contain traces of chrysotile asbestos.

The sand, sold at Officeworks and Woolworths, among other smaller crafts and educational supply stores, is available nationwide.

Batches sold from January 1, 2020 to October 31 this year were affected.

It is used at some schools for sensory play, as well as arts and crafts.

The closure would allow affected spaces and also students to be tested and “remediation to occur as soon as possible” in affected areas.

Officeworks, which stocked the product in almost 100 of its stores, has now removed it from sale.

A parent at the school said they had used the sand for years as a “regulating mechanism‘’.

Their child had asthma, so they would request a lung x-ray as a precaution.

After they learned about the ACCC recall they alerted the school.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission issued a nationwide recall on Kadink Decorative Sand after it was found to contain traces of chrysotile asbestos.

A Department of Education spokeswoman said they are working with all state schools that may be impacted.

“The ACCC reports that the safety risk is low and schools will continue to communicate with families and staff to keep them updated,” a Department of Education spokeswoman said.

“Workplace Health and Safety Queensland and other agencies continue to investigate this matter.

“Further updates will be provided as additional information becomes available‘’.

Shine Lawyers asbestos expert Kathryn Townsend advised parents who had bought the products or whose children had been exposed to it to make detailed notes of the brand, when and where they bought it or came into contact with it and also take photos.

“We know asbestos problems can take years to show up, but it is usually dangerous only if inhaled and we hope this prompt action will avoid any injury to children,‘’ she said.

“Asbestos has been banned in this country for decades. It does turn up in school playgrounds.

“There are questions to be answered about how it could get into a product like this so we hope educational authorities do a full audit.‘’

Parents could check the school closures website https://closures.qld.edu.au/ however so far only Mancel College was affected.

Tremolite asbestos is a naturally-occurring asbestos found in rocks or soil around Australia.

ACCC deputy chairwoman Catriona Lowe said the recall was precautionary as the substance was a problem only if present as microscopic fibres which could be inhaled.

The tremolite asbestos detected in the kinetic sand was found in larger “bundles‘’.

“It is an evolving situation and in an abundance of caution the recall has been issued,‘’ Ms Lowe said.

Mancel College has about 150 students from Prep to Year 12.