A major health scare has led to the temporary closure of dozens of schools across Australia after a disturbing discovery was made in a product found in classrooms and playgrounds: colourful play sand contaminated with asbestos.
Widespread School Closures and Product Recalls
The crisis escalated rapidly, with nearly 70 schools forced to close their doors. The issue first came to light when tests confirmed the presence of tremolite asbestos, a naturally occurring but hazardous form of the substance, in play sand manufactured by Educational Colours. This product was sold at mainstream retailers like Officeworks.
The situation worsened when a second, even more widely used play sand, sold by popular chains Kmart and Target, was also recalled. This second recall expanded the scope of the problem significantly, leading to the closure of 69 schools to allow for comprehensive air testing and the identification and removal of all contaminated sand.
Official Response and Low-Risk Assurance
Authorities have moved quickly to address the contamination. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) issued an urgent recall notice for the affected products on November 12. Australian Capital Territory Education Minister, Yvette Berry, described the extensive efforts to locate the sand, stating that teams have been “walking through classrooms, corridors and store rooms looking for coloured sand, and mapping what they see.”
Despite the alarming find, officials have been at pains to stress that the immediate risk is low. Minister Berry confirmed that specialised asbestos contractors would be brought in to “test, remediate and clear the spaces for use again,” but noted that air testing had so far returned negative results. Jo Wood, the ACT Education Directorate director-general, acknowledged the significant disruption, saying, “I know this is going to create a lot of disruption because so many in our community are impacted.”
Health Warnings and a Chilling Parallel for the UK
The recall warning is stark. ACCC Deputy Chair Catriona Lowe urged customers to immediately stop using the products. She advised people to place the sand in a heavy-duty plastic bag, seal it securely with double tape, and keep it away from children. “In an abundance of caution, customers should take precautions such as wearing disposable gloves and a mask,” she added.
Critically, the recall notice clarified that respirable asbestos was not detected in the tested samples. The hazardous fibres are unlikely to be released unless the sand is processed by mechanical means like crushing or pulverising.
This incident has chilling echoes of the ongoing asbestos problem in the UK. A recent report from the Joint Union Asbestos Committee (JUAC) alleged that a cost-cutting culture in British schools could lead to hundreds of thousands of deaths from asbestos exposure. The report predicts mesothelioma deaths will reach ‘tsunami’ levels in the coming years. The UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) estimates that between 210,000 and 400,000 buildings in the UK, many of them schools, still contain asbestos from construction before the dangers were fully understood.
The fallout has also spread internationally, with seven schools in New Zealand temporarily closing as a precaution to examine potential contamination, according to public broadcaster RNZ.
