Asbestos found in school playgrounds, 70 schools now closed

A total of 70 public schools in Canberra, Australia, will be closed on Monday after asbestos was found in coloured sand products used in classrooms.

The closures come after more brands and products were added to a national recall due to safety concerns.

The ACT Education Directorate first closed 16 schools, six preschools, and partially shut eight more on Friday. That number has now grown after the discovery that new recalled products were used even more widely.

Education Minister Yvette Berry said the latest sand products, recalled by Kmart and Target, had been used in more schools than originally thought.

“While we would have been able to reopen many schools from Friday, we now have to close more schools on Monday,” Ms Berry said.

She confirmed that families and staff would be notified directly.

Sand used in classrooms, play areas and art projects

The affected sand products are often used in art and play-based learning activities.

Testing found traces of asbestos, a dangerous material linked to long-term health issues.

Although the risk of exposure is considered very low, the ACT government says it is acting out of caution.

Ms Berry said air testing done so far has shown no signs of airborne asbestos.

“Health officials have confirmed the risk is very low,” she added. “But we have strong safety laws, and if we suspect something could be asbestos, we must treat it like it is.”

Clean-up and testing may take days

Visual checks of affected schools are already underway, with help from SES volunteers and staff.

Once coloured sand is found, licensed asbestos removal contractors will be brought in to test, remove, and clear areas.

“This could take days,” Ms Berry warned. “We’re doing everything we can to move quickly, but safety comes first.”

Jo Wood, director-general of the Education Directorate, said the decision to close schools was not made lightly. “We’ve worked very hard to maximise the number of schools that can stay open,” she said.

Just 22 ACT public schools will open fully on Monday. Three others will open but have some classrooms closed or relocated.

A full list has been made available to families.

Source: ABC

This article is made and published by Camilla Jessen, who may have used AI in the preparation