More than seventy public schools across the ACT were forced to close their doors this week following a major product safety recall over fears of asbestos contamination in children's play sand. The widespread closures have sparked significant concern among parents and educators, prompting a coordinated response from health and consumer authorities.
Extensive Product Recalls Spark Nationwide Alert
The crisis began when the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) issued recalls for several children's sand products sold at major retailers including Officeworks, Kmart, and Target. Laboratory testing confirmed the presence of asbestos in some samples, though authorities have been quick to emphasise the risk to children remains very low.
On 12th November, the initial recall targeted Educational Colours' 1.3kg Kadink Sand and Rainbow Sand products, along with 1kg Creatistics Coloured Sand. Officeworks took additional precautionary measures by recalling its own KD Plain Sand (1.3kg) and KD Magic Sand in natural and purple varieties.
The situation escalated on Sunday when the ACCC issued another recall for Kmart Australia's Active Sandtub 14-piece Sand Castle Building Set, sold at both Kmart and Target, and Magic Sand tubs in blue, green and pink exclusively available at Kmart.
Understanding the Actual Health Risks
Asbestos, banned in Australia since 2003, is known to cause terminal diseases when its crystalline fibres are inhaled. However, authorities have provided reassuring news about the current situation.
The ACCC confirmed that respirable asbestos has not been detected in any of the tested samples. This means the contaminated products are unlikely to release asbestos fibres fine enough to be inhaled, even if asbestos is present.
Professor Dino Pisaniello from the University of Adelaide's School of Public Health supported this assessment, stating: "The airborne concentrations in actual use would be extremely low – below the limit of detection by normal means. All of this gives considerable confidence in the risk being extremely low."
Nationwide School Closures and Ongoing Response
The contamination scare has triggered school closures across multiple regions. In the ACT alone, 72 public schools were closed on Monday for assessment and cleaning. Catholic Education Tasmania confirmed six schools would remain closed "until further notice" with three additional schools facing partial closures.
By Tuesday, the ACT government announced that 42 public schools would reopen, while Queensland education officials stated they didn't anticipate closing any state schools this week but were monitoring the situation closely.
The Asbestos and Silica Safety and Eradication Agency (Assea) warned that it could not rule out the possibility that similar products might be contaminated. The agency emphasised that importers should take proactive steps to identify potential risks in their supply chains.
Authorities have instructed consumers who possess the recalled products to wear gloves, masks and disposable coveralls when handling them. The sand should be placed in heavy-duty plastic bags, securely double-taped, stored away from children, and ultimately disposed of at an authorised facility.
