Sixteen public schools in Canberra are closed today and several others are partially closed due to potential asbestos contamination in coloured sand sold at dozens of stores across Australia. Here’s what we know.<\/p>\n
ACT Education Minister Yvette Berry spoke to reporters this morning. See how it unfolded live.<\/a><\/p>\n Ms Berry said Kadink Decorative Sand was used in some Canberra schools for sensory play and arts and craft.<\/p>\n “WorkSafe ACT have advised the risk of exposure to traces of chrysotile is low, however the safety of students, staff and families is our highest priority,” Ms Berry said. The ACCC issued a recall notice over colourful sand used in children’s products.\u00a0 (Supplied: ACCC)<\/p>\n Testing already underway<\/p>\n Ms Berry said the decision to shut schools was only made last night after a late meeting with the ACT Work Safety Commissioner and the Education Directorate.<\/p>\n “This is a low risk and I heard that firsthand from the WorkSafe Commissioner last night,” she said.<\/p>\n “However, it is a type of asbestos fibre or dust and so we need to take it seriously and remediate it appropriately.”<\/p>\n Yvette Berry says closing schools was a “precautionary measure”.\u00a0 (ABC News: Monte Bovill)<\/p>\n She said testing had already started on the affected sites.<\/p>\n “So far, the testing is not showing that there are any airborne fibres or any issues like that,” she said.WorkSafe notified last week<\/p>\n ACT Work Health and Safety Commissioner Jacqueline Agius said WorkSafe ACT had become aware of the potential asbestos risk late last week.<\/p>\n “That was an unverified test,” she said.<\/p>\n “WorkSafe ACT seized some of the product from a premises in the ACT and had our own testing conducted.<\/p>\n “That testing came back on Wednesday. As soon as we were aware that the test showed a positive for chrysotile asbestos, we provided that information to the community.”<\/p>\n Jacqueline Agius says “tests are happening all over the country at the moment”.\u00a0 (ABC News: Monte Bovill)<\/p>\n Ms Agius said the Education Directorate was “acting out of an abundance of caution”.<\/p>\n “Asbestos in sand is a naturally occurring substance because it comes from quartz and it’s quite heavy so when asbestos is heavy then it’s difficult to breath it in,” she said.<\/p>\n “So that’s why we say the risk is low.”Sand used in various settings<\/p>\n Education Directorate deputy director-general Angela Spence said schools had been using the sand for sensory activities in a variety of settings.<\/p>\n “It can be used as part of manipulative play materials. It can also be used to provide sensory support for young people as part of their regulation,” she said.<\/p>\n “In terms of the location across a school setting, it can be used in trays, out on desks, it can be used in open-plan areas, in outside sensory areas as part of that particular support.”<\/p>\n Angela Spence says it was a “significant” operational effort to suddenly close the schools. (ABC News: Monte Bovill)<\/p>\n Ms Spence said the decision to close schools was not taken lightly and required a “significant” operational effort.\u00a0<\/p>\n “In order to isolate the site and maintain business can often be challenging in a school-based environment,” she said.\u00a0<\/p>\n “We know that this is a disruption to the community and so when we do need to make those decisions, it is based on the information through our risk assessments that inform that.”\u00a0<\/p>\n The closures affect the following schools:<\/p>\n Whole school closures:Black Mountain SchoolCampbell Primary SchoolCharles Weston SchoolCharnwood-Dunlop Primary SchoolEvatt Primary SchoolFlorey Primary SchoolLatham Primary SchoolLyons Early Childhood SchoolMalkara SchoolNamadgi SchoolChapman Primary SchoolCranleigh SchoolMiles Franklin Primary SchoolFraser Primary SchoolWanniassa Hills Primary SchoolForrest Primary SchoolPartial school closures impacting multiple cohorts:Charles Conder Primary School \u2014 Preschool and Small Group ProgramNorth Ainslie Primary School \u2014 Preschool and Year 1Torrens Primary School \u2014 Preschool, Kindergarten and Year 1Wanniassa School \u2014 Preschool to Year 6Yarralumla Primary School \u2014 Montessori, Kindergarten, Year 1, Small Group ProgramThrosby School \u2013 Kindergarten, Year 1 and Year 2Amaroo School \u2013 Small Group ProgramFranklin School \u2014 PreschoolPreschool closures only:Curtin Primary School \u2014 PreschoolKingsford Smith School \u2014 Preschool including Koori PreschoolNarrabundah Early Childhood School \u2014 Preschool including Koori PreschoolMount Rogers\u00a0PreschoolMonash\u00a0PreschoolDuffy PreschoolTeddybears Childcare Centre<\/p>\n Kindergarten students at Telopea Park School\u00a0and Aranda Primary School have also been relocated to other areas within the schools.<\/p>\n Black Mountain School is one of the schools closed in Canberra today.\u00a0 (ABC News: Monte Bovill)<\/p>\n Ms Berry said parents would be advised of the closures via email and text messages.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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