Dozens of Tasmanian schools will remain closed or partially shut on Thursday after coloured sand products used in classrooms were found to contain naturally occurring asbestos.
An audit by the Department for Education, Children and Young People has since identified schools where the recalled sand was used within the past week.
In an update issued at 4:30pm on Wednesday, the department confirmed that 13 government schools will be fully closed on Thursday, with another 22 operating under partial closures affecting specific year levels.
Six Catholic schools will also close for the day, while another six will remain partially shut.
Federal health authorities say the risk to the public is low and no respirable asbestos fibres have been detected in any samples.
“The department is serious about any concerns that could affect the safety of the children, their families and our staff,” an alert said.
Licensed professionals are now carrying out removal, cleaning and testing work at affected sites.
The department is also working with WorkSafe Tasmania and qualified assessors to ensure schools can reopen safely.
Catholic Education Tasmania confirmed it is “continuing to work closely with school leaders, other education sectors, WorkSafe Tasmania and licensed professionals to support a safe and timely return to normal school operations”.
A spokesperson said removal, cleaning and testing is underway at its impacted schools.
Families who have the recalled products at home are urged to stop using them immediately.
They should wear protective equipment, seal the sand in heavy-duty plastic bags with double-taped openings and contact their local council for asbestos-safe disposal advice.
The products should not be put in general waste, authorities say.
Public schools to be fully closed on Thursday:
Bagdad Primary School
Campbell Street Primary School
Clarendon Vale Primary School
Dodges Ferry Primary School
Glenorchy Primary School
JRLF – Gagebrook Primary School
JRLF – Herdsmans Cove Primary School
JRLF – East Derwent Primary School
Lindisfarne North Primary School
Montagu Bay Primary School
New Norfolk Primary School
Romaine Park Primary School
Springfield Gardens Primary School
Public schools to be partially closed on Thursday:
Beaconsfield Primary School – Kindergarten to Year 2
Bellerive Primary School – Kindergarten to Year 2
Brighton Primary School – Kindergarten to Year 1
Clarendon Vale Primary School – Kindergarten and Prep
Collinsvale Primary School – Kindergarten to Year 3
Hagley Farm Primary School – Kindergarten
Illawarra Primary School – Kindergarten to Year 2
Kingston Primary School – Kindergarten and Prep
Latrobe Primary School – Kindergarten and Prep
Lauderdale Primary School – Kindergarten to Year 2
Lenah Valley Primary School – Kindergarten
Mt Nelson Primary School – Kindergarten to Year 2
Mt Stuart Primary School – Kindergarten to Year 1
Penguin District School – Kindergarten- Year 4
Perth Primary School – Prep
Port Dalrymple School – Kindergarten
Princes Street Primary School – Kindergarten and Prep
Rokeby Primary School – Kindergarten to Year 2
Sheffield School – Prep and Railton campus – Kindergarten and Prep
Sorell School – Kindergarten to Year 6
Triabunna District School – Kindergarten to Year 3
Ulverstone Primary School – Kindergarten and Prep
Public schools to re-open fully on Thursday:
Howrah Primary School
Sandy Bay Infant School
Warrane Primary School
Windermere Primary School
Catholic schools to be fully closed on Thursday:
Corpus Christi Catholic School, Bellerive
Sacred Heart Catholic School, Geeveston
St Brigid’s Catholic School, Wynyard
St Cuthbert’s Catholic School, Lindisfarne
St John’s Catholic School, Richmond
St Peter Chanel Catholic School, Smithton
Catholic schools to be partially closed on Thursday:
Dominic College, Glenorchy (Kindergarten–Year 2)
John Paul II Catholic School, Rokeby (Kindergarten–Year 2)
Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic School, Lenah Valley (Kindergarten)
Sacred Heart College, New Town (Kindergarten–Year 5)
St Aloysius Catholic College, Kingston (Kindergarten–Year 4)
St Thomas More’s Catholic School, Newstead (Kindergarten–Prep)
