The products affected
Several Canterbury schools have closed for testing because a play sand brand was found to contain asbestos.
MBIE has advised people to stop using rainbow sand from Educational Colours and coloured sand from Creatistics immediately.
The four products, sold by Kmart, are the 14-piece sandcastle building set and the blue, green and pink Magic Sand sets.
Burnside Primary School, Clearview Primary, and Waitaha School have all posted on Facebook, announcing closures to allow for asbestos testing.
“We have become aware that a number of areas of the school across satellites and the base school have been exposed to various coloured sand brands that have been recalled,” Waitaha School wrote on Facebook.
“The Ministry of Education have advised the Board to close the school and arrange for an investigation and clean by professional asbestos cleaners.”
Schools take caution
The products have been recalled because lab tests detected tremolite, a naturally occurring asbestos found in quartz, in the samples.
“We are taking immediate precautionary action while we establish the extent and risk of the potentially contaminated product,” MBIE product safety spokesperson Ian Caplin said.
“Stop using the sand, contain it, secure it in a safe place and arrange for safe disposal through licensed professionals; a list of these is available on the WorkSafe website.”
MBIE stated that although testing of the New Zealand product is still underway, Educational Colours has issued a recall notice as a precaution.
“Asbestos is a serious health hazard, and we are working with Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora, the Ministry of Education and WorkSafe to provide guidance for consumers and workplaces which may have bought these products.”
The Ministry of Education urges schools and early learning services who have purchased these products to stop using them immediately, secure them safely, and contact their local council for advice on where and how to dispose of the contaminated material safely.
“Where you have higher volumes of these products, you should contact a licensed asbestos assessor or removalist for immediate advice and support on your specific situation.”
Guidance for schools and consumers
WorkSafe strongly recommends hiring a Class A licensed asbestos removalist for safe disposal. A list of licensed removalists is available on the WorkSafe website. Once the sand is secured, it is advised to contact the supplier to arrange a refund under the Consumer Guarantees Act.
For workplaces, if the product is already in a sealed container, it should be moved to a secure location away from people to minimise any risk of exposure. If the sand is being used in your workplace, instruct everyone to exit the area, restrict access by blocking it off, and ensure it remains inaccessible.
Do not vacuum or sweep floors contaminated with sand; instead, avoid attempting to clean them yourself. Contact a licensed asbestos assessor or removalist immediately for guidance and assistance. Re-entry into the affected area should only occur once an expert has assessed contamination and completed remediation.
Anyone handling the sand should stop immediately and move to a sand-free, well-ventilated area. Any clothing worn during exposure must be treated as asbestos waste and disposed of accordingly. Educational facilities should notify the Ministry of Education, detailing the actions taken.
