Asbestos found in kids’ classrooms at Essendon North Primary
Asbestos dust has been found covering children’s belongings at a primary school in Melbourne’s north, with two classrooms shut down and an investigation urgently launched.
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Asbestos dust has been found covering children’s belongings in primary school classrooms in Melbourne’s north.
Two classrooms have been shut down as an investigation has been urgently launched into maintenance works at Essendon North Primary School.
The hazardous dust was discovered in the Grade 1 classrooms last week, where students spent the morning before being removed.
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It’s understood workers had pulled up carpet at the front of the rooms and ground down flooring to repair damage caused by a leaking roof.
Dust from the works travelled through two open windows and two doorways into the classrooms, where a layer settled on children’s belongings, books and tables.
It’s believed children were not in the classrooms during the grinding works on last Tuesday but had been in the rooms while the carpets were pulled up.
The Herald Sun has been told students had been let back in to the dust-covered classrooms on Wednesday morning, where parents spent more than an hour cleaning.
A concern was then raised over potential asbestos exposure due to the works and students were removed later that afternoon.
The Department of Education confirmed an occupational hygienist took samples of the dust the day the complaint was made, on Wednesday.
Those samples were found to contain asbestos.
Air monitoring was also carried out and found airborne asbestos fibres were below the laboratory detection limit.
Despite an environmental clean to remove the remaining debris and a hygienist giving the all-clear, the Grade 1 classrooms will remain closed until after a final inspection and cosmetic clean.
Families were only notified of the asbestos incident in a letter on Monday night, five days after the initial concern was raised.
Two days after that complaint, an investigation was launched on Friday.
It’s understood almost 50 children attend the two classrooms, along with teachers and support staff.
Affected students, staff and parents will be registered on the Department’s occupational health and safety reporting system, EduSafe.
A Department of Education spokeswoman said the “safety of students and the school community is our number one priority”.
“We understand events such as these can be concerning for the school community and an investigation is underway,” the spokeswoman said.
“The Department will continue to keep the school community informed as the investigation progresses.”
A further update is expected to be made on Friday, March 8.
Anyone impacted who wants further information can contact the Asbestos Reform, Victorian School Building Authority on (03) 9637 3775 or via email at asbestos.reform@edumail.vic.gov.au
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