Australia's first case of mesothelioma was diagnosed in 1972 in a Wittenoom miner.
By 1983, mining had stopped.
In Queensland, an itemised list of asbestos in school buildings runs to nearly 5800 pages; one fifth of the government's school maintenance budget, or $21.5 million, was spent on removing the potentially lethal material in 2010.
"Parents should talk to the principal and make sure it's painted, or well-maintained. If it's cracked or got holes in it, it's dangerous. Some builders buried offcuts on site and they're poking up in playgrounds," says Barry Robson, NSW president of the Asbestos Diseases Research Foundation.
Medical evidence suggests that there is no 'safe' level of exposure to asbestos dust and fibre.
In November 2009 there were 78,204 confirmed or presumed asbestos sites in Queensland schools.
More than 11,000 sites have slight to major damage.
More than 100 sites are in an "unstable" condition.
94 asbestos "events' have been recorded in Queensland schools during 2009.
About two Queensland schools are being forced into a partial shutdown each week because of asbestos problems.
The use of all forms of asbestos in Australia has been banned since 2003, including its import and export.
But asbestos is present in most buildings constructed prior to 1990.
Asbestos can be found in Queensland school -
* vinyl ( lino ) flooring ( there are thousands of cases across Queensland ),
* ceilings,
* walls,
* splashbacks,
* drains,
* bag racks,
* benches,
* old telecommunication pits,
* pipes around trees.
Asbestos in Queensland school buildings can be exposed -
* when it is dislodged during vandalism,
* when it is dislodged during repairs or upgrades to classrooms.
There have been numerous incidents of asbestos materials being drilled during the installation of data cables and airconditioners in schools.
* when it is dislodged during damage to school buildings,
* when asbestos debris resurfaces in school playgrounds, sandpits and ovals.
Queensland Association of State School Principals president Norm Hart says that it was common practice in the 1950's to bulldoze and bury school buildings.
"Over time the material can come to the surface and when it does appear ... there is an issue," he said.
This old fill directly exposes children to asbestos. During the 12 months to September 2009, some of the worst material was debris found in primary school play areas.
QUT asbestos expert William Kwiecien says that the risk to Queensland school students from asbestos debris is "extremely low" in most cases, as sheeting with smaller percentages is most likely to resurface.
But the Queensland government revealed in November 2009 that it had rated one type of asbestos wall sheeting as far more dangerous because it could potentially crumble.
Mackay is the worst area for asbestos in schools across Queensland, with some of the most degraded, and therefore dangerous, material in their school buildings.
One Townsville teacher died of mesothelioma, the cancer caused by exposure to asbestos, after repeatedly wiping asbestos dust off desks when it fell from her classroom's ceiling.
Queensland Department of Education and Training ( DET ) staff have made 409 Workers Compensation notification claims since 2005 after being potentially exposed to asbestos.
Queensland teachers are advised to lodge a notification claim if there is a chance that they have been exposed to asbestos.
This will help facilitate future access to workers' compensation if required.
Between 2002 and November 2010 -
18 WorkCover asbestos-related claims made by Queensland Department of Education and Training staff have been accepted.
Seven of these claims were for asbestos-related illnesses.
Seven were for psychological injury related to exposure.
Four were for possible exposure.
Turner Freeman are also representing other teachers who have been exposed to asbestos.
In 2013 a Queensland teacher was reported to have been paid $642,194.50 by WorkCover after being exposed to asbestos.
State Government to combat classroom assaults on teachers, Alison Sandy and Anthony Gough, The Sunday Mail, 3 March 2013
And in March 2016 a former Toowoomba science teacher was diagnosed with cancer.
He said he had been "inadvertently breathing in a ticking time bomb" because the Bunsen burner safety mats, which were made from asbestos, were slowly disintegrating.
His claim was settled in May 2016 by Slater and Gordon's Martin Rogalski.
Qld teacher developed cancer from asbestos, Jamie McKinnell, AAP, 5 July 2016
Cancer Council CEO Professor Ian Oliver says mesothelioma is expected to kill up to 18,000 Australians by 2020.
In November 2010 Queensland opposition education spokesman Dr Bruce Flegg renewed his calls for the Queensland Government to place large red stickers on walls and ceilings in Queensland schools to indicate the presence of asbestos.
In 2011, the Labor government had launched two independent reviews into the satellite dish installation program, after it was revealed inadequately trained contractors had dislodged asbestos in more than 20 government-owned houses.
It reviewed 195 government-owned homes --
predominantly houses owned by the Queensland Education Department, attached to schools
-- and found 22 tested positive for asbestos disturbance.
To view the Education Queensland asbestos register visit : www.education.qld.gov.au/asbestos
Opposition sees red over school asbestos, Kristy Sexton-McGrath, ABC News : 25 November 2010.
Teachers may strike over asbestos find, Petrina Berry, AAP, news.com.au : 23 November 2010.
Hundreds more children exposed to asbestos in state schools, Tanya Chilcott, The Courier-Mail : 30 Noveember 2010.
Hundreds lodge claims : Teachers in asbestos risk plan future compensation, Tanya Chilcott, p.2, The Courier-Mail : Wednesday 17 November 2010.
Calls for greater focus on asbestos, AAP, The Courier-Mail : 28 June 2010.
Schoolkids forced to shower in clothes after asbestos in roof fell on them at Mackay, Tanya Chilcott, The Courier-Mail : 12 March 2010.
Asbestos riddles Coast's schools, Anne-Louise Brown, The Sunshine Coast Daily : 22 November 2009
Asbestos shuts class, Tanya Chilcott, schools reporter, P. 4, The Courier-Mail : 21-22 November, 2009
Danger in school dust, Page 4, The Courier-Mail : November 21-22, 2009
Kids potentially exposed to asbestos, The Courier-Mail : 21 November, 2009
State school asbestos assessment reveals 80,000 risky sites , Tanya Chilcott, The Courier-Mail : 20 November, 2009
Schoolkids exposed as asbestos found in ovals, sandpits, Tanya Chilcott, The Courier-Mail : 28 September, 2009.
Asbestos in hundreds of schools, Kelmeny Fraser, The Sunday Mail : 26 July, 2009
In 2011, the Labor government had launched two independent reviews into the satellite dish installation program, after it was revealed inadequately trained contractors had dislodged asbestos in more than 20 government-owned houses.
It reviewed 195 government-owned homes -- predominantly houses owned by the Queensland Education Department, attached to schools -- and found 22 tested positive for asbestos disturbance.
Asbestolux is a low-density board, made up of up to 70 per cent compressed asbestos fibres.
10 per cent compressed asbestos fibres are commonly found in asbestos cement sheeting.
Asbestolux boards are soft and crumble with the pressure of a fingernail.
Asbestolux is subject to strict handling restrictions.
The Queensland government was warned about Asbestolux TWO YEARS before it launched an audit of Queensland schools in search of the product.
Most of Queensland's 1400 schools remain unchecked in July 2010.
Under questioning from shadow education minister Bruce Flegg at parlimentary estimates hearings, Education Department director-general Julie Grantham confirmed that 289 Queensland schools were inspected for the material between December 2009 and February 2010.
Asbestolux was detected in 115 of the 289 schools.
"All it takes is for a schoolbag to knock against a wall for the fibres to be released," Dr Flegg said.
Asbestos 'cover up' - new threat hits schools, David Murray, p. 17, The Sunday Mail, 25 July 2010
Queensland schools riddled with asbestos, inspections show, AAP, 25 July 2010
Asbestos problems in Queensland schools may not always be the contractor's fault.
It is surprising how many Queensland schools don't have access to information regarding what asbestos is suspected to be in the schools, including the official departmental register.
Records are quite often out of date, inaccurate or missing altogether.
The contractors may not even be aware that they are working with asbestos.
I've seen numerous times where contractors try to get the information before starting work and are told it was all removed years ago, only to find that the buildings have been re-named, or only part of the asbestos was removed.
This is what usually leads to these problems.
Darren of Brisbane, Reader's Comment : Two students (sic) may have been exposed to asbestos dust at Queensland schools, Rosemary Odgers, The Courier-Mail, 11 March 2010.
Education Minister Geoff Wilson said that it was the school principal's responsibility to ensure the safety of students and staff when it came to asbestos-related incidents.
And "any failure to fulfill those obligations will result in disciplinary action," Mr Wilson said.
Asbestos fears at fourth Mackay-based school , David Barbeler, AAP, The Courier-Mail : 12 March 2010.
North Queensland Queensland Teachers' Union organiser Julieanne Gilbert says that part of the blame for asbestos problems in Queensland schools should go to the trained professionals whose job it was to come to the schools and inspect them for asbestos.
Minister angers school teachers, Fallon Hudson, The Daily Mercury : 13 March 2010.
The tried and proven method in Queensland is to report these things immediately and anonymously to the media.
Don't worry about telling your supervisors, reporting it to the Education Department, making submissions to the principal or bleating on in staff meetings, simply make an anonymous call to the media.
Action will be taken, and only taken, once the public are aware of it.
Otherwise it is just delay, excuses and spin.
Bill, Reader's Comment 7 of 15, Teacher claims government covered up high school asbestos problem, Patrick Lion, The Courier-Mail, 23 January, 2010
A ceiling collapsed at Allenstown State School.
This exposed lining that contained asbestos.
Asbestos in hundreds of schools, Kelmeny Fraser, The Sunday Mail, 26 July, 2009.
Asbestos material was discovered under the Ashgrove State School oval late last year.
Soil at this school was listed as "contaminated".
But Education Queensland says that the site was cleared and is now deemed safe.
Schoolkids exposed as asbestos found in ovals, sandpits, Tanya Chilcott, The Courier-Mail : 28 September, 2009.
A contractor working at Ashmore State School allegedly failed to check the asbestos register, consult staff or draw up a work plan.
He simply walked into a classroom and started drilling holes into an asbestos-lined ceiling.
Children were in the classroom at the time.
Students exposed to asbestos after contractor 'failed to check asbestos register' and drilled into ceiling, Greg Stolz, The Courier-Mail, 23 April 2010.
Atherton State High School, south of Cairns, has the worst asbestos risk in Far North Queensland.
It is the only Far Northern school ranked in the most serious category.
Extensive work has begun to remove asbestos.
Parents of Atherton State High School students said that the risk was well known in the school community.
But lack of funding meant that the asbestos risk had remained for years longer than it should have.
Parent Ray Kirkman said, "I would like to have seen the issue dealt with in one or two years rather than four to five years."
"A lot of the asbestos is in the roof so as long as it isn't disturbed the risk is minimal," Mr Kirkman said.
November 2010 update:
The Queensland Teachers Union ( QTU ) says dozens of teaching staff have been exposed to asbestos in a room at Atherton State High School.
It is believed that teachers could have been exposed to asbestos dust for more than a year following work in the staffroom.
Unions say work was carried out on the ceiling of the staffroom about 18 months ago, holes were drilled into the ceiling, and since then dust containing asbestos has been falling into the work space.
"Tests undertaken on dust found in the staffroom on November 1 2010 returned positive as containing asbestos," Education Queensland said in a statement on 23 November 2010.
Three rooms at the school were recently decontaminated.
QTU representative Maureen Duffy said staff were angry, frustrated and upset after Education Queensland was still unable to explain the source of the asbestos dust.
Ms Duffy said a QTU meeting on Tuesday 23 November 2010 at Atherton State High School was the most emotional she had been to as a union organiser of 15 years.
Staff passed seven motions put forward at the meeting, including reaffirming "that the unnecessary exposure of staff in C Block staffroom to asbestos dust has been the result of negligence".
"Atherton State High School members re-assert that they have no confidence in the clearance given for the safe use of C Block staffroom given that the exact source of the asbestos has yet to be confirmed," another motion stated.
Queensland opposition education spokesman Dr Bruce Flegg says Atherton State High School teachers are justified in asking for the asbestos to be removed.
"These teachers may have had exposure to asbestos contamination in their workplace," Dr Flegg said.
"They have to live now for the rest of their lives not knowing whether they have inhaled asbestos."
Teachers to strike over asbestos 'negligence', Tanya Chilcott and Ursula Heger, The Courier-Mail : 24 November 2010.
Opposition sees red over school asbestos, Kristy Sexton-McGrath, ABC News : 25 November 2010.
Teachers may strike over asbestos find, Petrina Berry, AAP, news.com.au : 23 November 2010.
Teachers may strike over asbestos concerns, Petrina Berry, AAP, 22 November 2010.
'Serious' asbestos risk at high school, Alita Pashley, P.5 The Cairns Post : 23 November, 2009
12 October 2009 : Access was restricted to a new arts building site after asbestos was found in imported building fill.
Queensland Education director-general Julie Grantham said that qualified and independent authorities had provided a clearance before students and staff were allowed back into the area.
Asbestos shuts class, Tanya Chilcott, schools reporter, p. 4, The Courier-Mail : 21-22 November 2009
Debris containing asbestos was removed from the Birkdale South State School netball courts in 2009.
Education Queensland says that the site was cleared and that it is now deemed safe.
Schoolkids exposed as asbestos found in ovals, sandpits, Tanya Chilcott, The Courier-Mail : 28 September, 2009.
4 November 2009 : Access to the James Centre hall had to be restricted.
A fire had damaged material containing asbestos.
Queensland Education director-general Julie Grantham said that qualified and independent authorities had provided a clearance before students and staff were allowed back into the areas.
Wednesday 23 February 2011 : a contractor was inspecting a ceiling at Broadbeach State School while children were in the classroom.
Why?
A piece of sheeting containing asbestos became dislodged.
Staff immediately evacuated the room.
Student work books below the damaged area were disposed of because of the potential contamination.
Asbestos shuts class, Tanya Chilcott, schools reporter, P.4, The Courier-Mail 21-22 November 2009
Children climbed on to the roof of a games area at Buddina State School during the school holidays.
They dislodged a drainpipe cover.
It crashed to the ground and fibres were released.
The area tested positive to asbestos.
Asbestos in hundreds of schools, Kelmeny Fraser, The Sunday Mail, 26 July, 2009.
Asbestos debris was removed from the playground / softball area and oval in 2009.
Schoolkids exposed as asbestos found in ovals, sandpits, Tanya Chilcott, The Courier-Mail, 28 September, 2009.
The inspector found that a contractor had been carving through asbestos sheeting with power tools while disassembling buildings, believed to be more than 25 years old, to make way for a new two-storey teaching block funded by the Building the Education Revolution.
The incident happened out of school hours.
"If any students walked through this and picked up sheeting, they would have been at risk of exposure to fibres," the source said.
"But the highest risk of contamination would have occurred when fibres were in the air during the cutting."
Graham Atkins, Acting Deputy Director General of Infrastructure Services, confirmed to The Courier-Mail that protocol had not been followed.
Mr Atkins said the notice from WHSQ carried a $1600 penalty, payable by the school.
When asked whether the school's principal, Paula Passi, had been reprimanded, Mr Atkins said: "This matter has been referred to DET's chief safety adviser John Gaskin for further investigation."
The contractor has not been named but The Courier-Mail understands he has been hit with an $800 fine by WHSQ.
Damaged ceiling panels at Cairns West State School tested positive for asbestos during the last week of third term 2010.
Children and staff in two teaching areas had to be moved to other classrooms.
Asbestos scare at West Cairns School, Stephanie Harrington, The Cairns Post : 23 September 2010.
Asbestos debris was removed from underneath a hall in 2009.
Schoolkids exposed as asbestos found in ovals, sandpits, Tanya Chilcott, The Courier-Mail, 28 September, 2009.
Simon Smith has worked as an asbestos removalist for almost 20 years.
His daughter attends Caningeraba State School.
At 6.15am on Wednesday 3 June 2009, work began on removing a bag rack from Caningeraba State School.
At 8.20am that day Simon Smith dropped his daughter off at the school.
"There were no warning tapes, no barriers, no sign, the actual workers were not wearing overalls and respirators ... there was no hazardous dust vacuum, nothing."
Simon Smith rang to ask an administration officer at the school if the bag rack contained asbestos.
She spoke to the QBuild workers and then phoned back to advise Mr Smith that the bag rack did not contain asbestos.
And a QBuild employee at the school told The Bulletin that the bag rack was made of compressed fibro, not asbestos.
One of Mr Smith's workers happened to be at the Reedy Creek landfill at the same time as the QBuild men were offloading the bag racks.
He took a sample from the Caningeraba State School bag racks.
The sample was sent to an independent Brisbane-based accredited laboratory.
By 1.30pm the sample had been found to contain chrysotile asbestos - a known carcinogen which can cause asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma.
And the QBuild workers had lodged a form at the landfill specifying that the bag rack contained asbestos.
"It is unfortunate the parent did not complain directly to the workers concerned as they may have been able to explain the methodology employed and alleviate his concerns," said Public Works Minister Robert Schwarten.
"It's one lie to cover up another," said Simon Smith.
Asbestos debris from a nesting bird fell through a perforated ceiling during 2009.
Schoolkids exposed as asbestos found in ovals, sandpits, Tanya Chilcott, The Courier-Mail, 28 September, 2009.
Opposition Education spokesman Bruce Flegg showed this morning's Estimates hearing photographs of Chapel Hill State School classroom floors covered in strips of masking tape.
Dr Flegg asked why the school floors had been left in this condition since 2007.
Building Services Staff apparently told Chapel Hill State School staff that the situation was "one of the worst they had seen".
Every classroom was affected. The admin block was affected. The entire school was affected.
Education Minister Geoff Wilson said that the asbestos-backed flooring at Chapel Hill State School would now be replaced in the September school holidays.
Lives risked in school's asbestos floor band-aid : Opposition, Tony Moore, The Brisbane Times, 23 July, 2009.
October 2009 : building debris containing asbestos was found along a fence line, restricting access for almost a week.
Queensland Education director-general Julie Grantham said that qualified and experienced authorities had provided a clearance before students and staff were allowed back into the area.
Asbestos shuts class, Tanya Chilcott, schools reporter, P. 4, The Courier-Mail : 21-22 November 2009
Asbestos dust was found on school desks in 2008.
Danger in school dust, P. 4, The Courier-Mail : November 21-22, 2009
Tests returned positive traces of asbestos in dust from holes drilled during work on an airconditioning system at the Daradgee Environmental Education Centre, north of Innisfail.
Asbestos scare grows, The Cairns Post, 17 November 2010.
Eight Miles Plains State School was forced to restrict access to outdoor areas after asbestos material was found in September 2009.
Schoolkids exposed as asbestos found in ovals, sandpits, Tanya Chilcott, The Courier-Mail : 28 September, 2009.
Building products containing asbestos were disturbed at Highfields State School on Friday 19 February 2010, during electrical work in a Year 7 classroom.
Education Queensland Deputy Director-General Infrastructure Services Alan Wagner said that, as a precaution, materials including carpet, a concertina door and resources of teachers and students, including books and even school bags, were "disposed of".
Asbestos forces classroom closure,, Jim Campbell, The Chronical : 17 March 2010.
February 2016 : two young Holland Park State School students discovered asbestos material while playing on the school oval.
The asbestos had come to the surface after erosion.
Asbestos expert and occupational physician Dr Keith Adam advised the public that there was a "very, very low" risk that asbestos fibres could be airborne.
September 2016 : More asbestos material has been discovered on Holland Park State School grounds, following a downpour of rain.
The area where the asbestos was found was immediately restricted.
During the September 2016 school holiday shutdown extensive asbestos remediation work will take place on the school grounds.
Asbestos found on Holland Park State School oval, Lauren Martyn-Jones, Tom Snowdon, The Courier-Mail, 14 September 2016
Contractors replacing air conditioners in Hopevale State School teacher accommodation discovered potential asbestos residue.
Tests indicated that the problem extended to teachers' clothing, books and other personal items.
Indooroopilly State High School teacher Rob Wiltshire claims that Education Queensland failed to act on repeated warnings that asbestos and debris had fallen from damaged ceilings in corridors and classrooms in the school science block.
Mr Wiltshire claims that the asbestos and debris had fallen on to furniture.
And that, late in 2009, debris fell out of the damaged staff room ceiling on to a staff member.
Mr Wiltshire claims that another teacher - a learning support teacher - was also considering legal action, claiming that the asbestos made them sick.
"The ceiling is due to be replaced in time for the start of school next week," Queensland Education Minister Geoff Wilson said.
"All asbestos in the ... science block is in a safe condition."
But Mr Wiltshire said workers had only gone into the school this week to fix the issue after The Courier-Mail made inquiries.
In July 2010 : Rob Wiltshire is in the process of launching civil action against the Queensland Government over alleged phsical and psychological damage he says was caused by the school's treatment of him regarding asbestos.
For more information : Teachers' Stories.
Teacher claims government covered up high school asbestos problem, Patrick Lion, The Courier-Mail, 23 January, 2010.
Indooroopilly State High School in asbestos scare, Margaret Wenham and Tanya Chilcott, The Courier-Mail, 31 July 2010.
Traffic in a school carpark dredged up landfill containing asbestos.
Deadly fibres were potentially released.
Danger in school dust, P. 4, The Courier-Mail : 21-22 November, 2009
Three buildings at Kallangur State School were exposed to asbestos after a contractor drilled holes in walls to install data cabling.
The school had filled out all of the appropriate paperwork, notifying the contractor of the asbestos.
But the correct procedures were not followed.
Fortunately this happened during the school holidays and QBuild tradesmen and contractors were able to have the school safe before the students and teachers returned.
Asbestos in hundreds of schools, Kelmeny Fraser, The Sunday Mail, 26 July, 2009.
A block of the 900-student Kruger State School, at Bellbird Park near Ipswich, was shut on Thursday after cracked fibro ceiling panels were found to contain asbestos.
Kristen Doyle was a first-year Queensland teacher working in Lockhart River State School.
Workers began drilling holes in school ceilings and walls for Managed Operating Environment (MOE) intallation.
The workers discovered asbestos.
Kirsten, the QTU rep, had to deal with the situation because the Department of Education was strangely unresponsive.
The Lockhart River State School teachers refused to re-enter their rooms till they had been properly tested, cleaned-up and re-tested.
Asbestos was found in a teacher's desk, the prep building, the staffroom and classrooms for every year level except year five.
Tests showed asbestos contamination of skirting boards in the main teaching block.
And asbestos mixed with cement dust in the pre-school building.
It took a week for the area to be declared clear of asbestos.
Asbestos was again found in Lockhart River classrooms in November 2009.
On 20 November 2009 Education Queensland stated that cleaning had "commenced".
During the weekend 24-25 July 2010, contract workers were removing an airconditioning unit from a ceiling at Longreach State School.
Material containing asbestos was disturbed.
The Department of Education and Training's Graham Atkins says that the area was isolated and children were kept away from the room until it could be made safe.
Workers uncover school asbestos, ABC, 27 July 2010.
March 2010 :
Staff and students at Mackay North State High School were evacuated from 19 classrooms and five staffrooms in early March 2010.
It had been revealed that workers had disturbed asbestos fibres in the roofs of the buildings.
Concerns were raised about possible asbestos dust on the walls and ceilings of several rooms.
Mackay North State High School students had been potentially exposed to asbestos for up to six months.
The principal of Mackay North State High School is to be investigated by Education Queensland.
October 2010 update:
Mackay North State High School has had at least three incidents involving potentially disturbed asbestos during 2010.
On Monday 4 and Tuesday 5 October 2010 one of Mackay North State High School's classrooms was closed after a teacher discovered flaking paint from ceiling sheeting that contained asbestos.
The room was professionally cleaned.
A hygenist then came in and tested the room again to amke sure that it was clean and available for use.
Hundreds of pieces of equipment and teacher resources - including 17 computers, five servers, five televisions, 11 overhead projectors, three data projectors, a scanner, a photocopier, a fax machine and various other items - had to be thrown out after three blocks were closed down in March because of potential asbestos contamination.
The bill for the disposed items, which also lists teacher resources including hundreds of books, came to $88,342.21.
Govt to probe school asbestos scare, ABC News, 11 March 2010.
Two students (sic) may have been exposed to asbestos dust at Queensland schools, Rosemary Odgers, The Courier-Mail, 11 March, 2010.
Schoolkids forced to shower in clothes after asbestos in roof fell on them at Mackay, Tanya Chilcott, The Courier-Mail : 12 March 2010.
Minister angers school teachers, Fallon Hudson, The Daily Mercury : 13 March 2010
Asbestos clean-up costing Queensland schools, Tanya Chilcott, The Courier-Mail, 2 September 2010.
Asbestos find closes third classroom, Sigrid Brown, ABC, 7 October 2010.
On 10 December 2009 a house beside Mackay West State School was demolished during school hours.
The house contained asbestos.
And ...
In March 2010 Queensland's Minister of Education Geoff Wilson stated his dismay at the processes carried out at the Mackay West Primary School.
A report released about remodeling work done at the school suggests that workers used sandpaper to remove paint from walls containing asbestos, a process that can release the harmful dust into the air.
The workers then allegedly used a domestic vacuum to remove paint flecks.
When asbestos dust is inhaled, the fibers become trapped in the lung tissue and can cause serious respiratory diseases.
Mr. Wilson said that he would discuss the issue with Members of Parliament to determine what course of action the government can take against the contractors.
Mr Wilson also stated that the principals at the affected schools could face disciplinary action for failing to "ensure the safety of the students" during the asbestos removal projects.
Alan Wagner, an official with the Queensland Department of Education, said that the possibility that students and faculty may have been exposed to asbestos-laced paint flakes is "an extremely serious situation" and is "not acceptable".
Govt to probe school asbestos scare, ABC News, 11 March 2010.
Minister angers school teachers, Fallon Hudson, The Daily Mercury : 13 March 2010.
Asbestos debris was found in the Manly State School sandpit in July 2009.
The sand was replaced.
More debris was also found under a shade structure in the school's playground.
This debris was unstable and severely deteriorated.
Schoolkids exposed as asbestos found in ovals, sandpits, Tanya Chilcott, The Courier-Mail : 28 September, 2009.
Debris that tested positive for asbestos was found in two Mansfield State School classrooms on 7 February 2010.
The parents of 57 students have put their children's names down on a "School Management System ( SMS ) database" at the School.
Seven staff at Mansfield State school have made workers compensation notification claims following potential exposure.
The debris came from airconditioning work completed in E Block in late January, Education Queensland acting deputy director-general Graham Atkins said.
Debris was also found in a C Block classroom.
Experts advised that resources and equipment in the C Block classroom could not be totally cleaned, so they had to be thrown out.
Hundreds more children exposed to asbestos : Case two : Mansfield State School, Tanya Chilcott, p.2, The Courier-Mail : 30 November 2010.
Traces of asbestos were discovered in several classrooms and staff offices at Mareeba State High School in March 2011.
A teacher and two year eight students disturbed the dust when they were lowering an overhead projector screen and the screws supporting one of the brackets suddenly pulled out of the wall.
The material, less than a teaspoon full, originated from the six screw holes where the screen bracket had been secured to the wall.
Testing of the powder yesterday confirmed it was asbestos.
The teacher and students were provided with showers and replacement clothes and encouraged to consult a doctor if they had any concerns.
The school immediately contacted the parents of both boys and will purchase new clothing for all three involved.
Middlemount Community school had two temporary closures between July 2010 and 2 September 2010.
Asbestos fears rising in Queensland state schools, Tanya Chilcott, The Courier-Mail, 2 September 2010 : http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/asbestos-fears-rising-in-queensland-state-schools/story-e6frg6oo-1225913074993
20 biology students were blanketed in dust at about 9.45am on Tuesday 9 March 2010, after a classroom ceiling sagged at Mirani State High in the Mackay region of Queensland.
The students were forced to shower in their uniforms.
Education Queensland deputy director-general Alan Wagner reassured their parents that "subsequent testing did not identify any asbestos containing debris within the room".
"However, sample results of dust in the ceiling cavity confirmed the presence of asbestos."
All clothes, shoes and student backpacks have been stored for a period of time - in accordance with workplace health and safety guidelines - until the issue is resolved.
Will the parents of these children be allowed to have their children's clothes, shoes and backpacks independently tested?
Asbestos fears at fourth Mackay-based school, David Barbeler, AAP, The Courier-Mail : 12 March 2010.
Schoolkids forced to shower in clothes after asbestos in roof fell on them at Mackay, Tanya Chilcott, The Courier-Mail : 12 March 2010.
Students were evacuated from Moranbah East State School classrooms in early March 2010 after concerns were raised about possible asbestos dust on the walls and ceilings of several rooms.
Asbestos was found at the school and removed.
The principal of Moranbah East State School is to be investigated by Education Queensland.
Two students (sic) may have been exposed to asbestos dust at Queensland schools, Rosemary Odgers, The Courier-Mail : 11 March 2010.
Asbestos fears at fourth Mackay-based school, David Barbeler, AAP, The Courier-Mail : 12 March 2010.
Minister angers school teachers, Fallon Hudson, The Daily Mercury : 13 March 2010.
In February 2009 Steve Morrison, the former president of the Manbour State High School parents and citizens association, raised concerns about damaged asbestos flooring in several classrooms at the school.
On 21 November 2009 Mr Morrison told The Sunshine Coast Daily that the situation was a disgrace.
"The problem with asbestos is that the effects are not immediate - they can take 30 years to develop."
"Right now the health of thousands of people is being put at risk," Mr Morrison said.
Terry Evans, spokesperson for the Sunshine Coast branch of the Queensland Teachers' Union ( QTU ) said he had received numerous complaints from teachers about the asbestos risk.
Asbestos riddles Coast's schools, Anne-Louise Brown, The Sunshine Coast daily : 22 November 2009
Two pieces of fibro were found at Redclife State High School in August 2008.
Allegations have since been made that more asbestos was unearthed at Redcliffe State High School and that it was secretly moved in violation of safety regulations.
It is understood that three pieces of contaminated fibro "the size of tennis balls" were found in mulch surrounding the pedestrian overpass called Caity's Crossing.
An email trail between Education Queensland and the Department of Main Roads obtained by The Courier-Mail shows a deliberate and elaborate cover-up -
August 22, 2008, 3.18pm
Greening Australia HR manager Gareth Smith wrote to Main Roads engineer Rory Flood telling him that testing of "three pieces of fibro or similar material within the mulch sourced from the DMR Deagon pit" at Redcliffe State High School returned positive results of asbestos.
"Pieces have been found on both sides of the road," he said in an email to Main Roads.
"The school should be alerted with relevant details, particularly given that it is a school."
August 27, 2008, 2.50pm
Main Roads Brisbane assets and operations manager Jeff Ross wrote to Department of Education and Training Sunshine Coast regional facilities manager Fay Jeppesen to say there had been two positive tests for asbestos and one negative.
"We have taken the conservative approach and the expert will remove the mulch this weekend – hopefully without press or parent involvement," Jeff Ross wrote.
August 28, 2008, 11.57am
Fay Jeppesen asked Department of Education and Training Sunshine Coast regional executive director Rob McAlpine whether a letter should go home after Redcliffe State High School principal Shona McKinlay inquired about the safety of students/staff using the overhead crossing.
August 28, 2008, 12.18pm
Mr McAlpine tells Ms Jeppesen he did not see the need as he thought the risk was "minimal".
"In discussions with Shona (McKinlay), anyone that asks about the barricading will be informed that it is for WHS (Workplace Health and Safety) and that the mulch is being replaced," Department of Education Sunshine Coast Regional Facilities manager Fay Jeppesen said in an email to Main Roads.
"It's appalling," she said. "I have a family member dying of asbestosis . . . it only takes one fibre.
"If it wasn't a big concern, what was the harm in telling parents?"
Shona McKinlay explained to parents that she had been advised that there was no health or safety risk and she had accepted that advice in good faith.
Queensland premier Anna Bligh said the decision not to tell students, parents and staff of the find was made after officials determined there was no risk to the community.
But she admits that was a mistake.
"... that is not good enough. I think the community should have been advised and I understand the (education) minister has been taking steps to make sure that happens in the future," she told reporters north of Brisbane.
"I want parents and school communities to know whenever there is asbestos in their schools. That is why we have published registers."
Queensland Premier Anna Bligh denies school asbestos cover-up, AAP, 15 November 2010 : http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/bligh-denies-school-asbestos-coverup-20101115-17tmg.html
Redcliffe State High School asbestos covered up by Education Queensland bureaucrats, Alison Sandy, The Courier-Mail, 15 November 2010 : http://www.couriermail.com.au/lifestyle/parenting/redcliffe-state-high-school-asbestos-covered-up-by-education-queensland-bureaucrats/story-e6frer7o-1225953449381
Hundreds more children exposed to asbestos : case three : Redcliffe State High School, Alison Sandy, p. 2, The Courier-Mail : 30 November 2010.
During the fourth term of 2009, teachers sat in the Languages Other Than English ( LOTE ) Staffroom F102 at Sandgate State High School as workers disturbed asbestos sheeting around them.
Students in rooms F105 and F106 were also exposed to asbestos fibres.
Work to install computer cabling and an air-conditioner continued for weeks after staff and students had returned for the fourth term of 2009.
Warnings in the school's asbestos register noted that these rooms were suspected of containing asbestos, including Asbestolux.
The warnings were overlooked.
On Friday 6 August 2010, the furious Sandgate State High teachers were briefed about the potential health consequences.
"Now we will have to wait 40 years to find out if we are affected," one school community member told The Sunday Mail.
"How could this happen?"
30 November 2010 update:
In July 2010, classroom renovations were undertaken at Sandgate District State High School.
Air monitoring tested positive to asbestos.
Queensland Chief Safety Adviser on Asbestos John Gaskin has written a report in which he blames contractors for failing to maintain a safe environment while working on the renovations.
John Gaskin states that "it is most likely that teachers and students were allowed access to work areas where asbestos-containing material was either being worked on or had been worked on and not cleaned up".
Five teachers made statements and the principal provided an incident management report concerning staff and students exposed to asbestos dust and debris.
Hundreds more children exposed to asbestos. Case one: Sandgate District High School, Alison Sandy, p.2, The Courier-Mail : 30 November 2010
School bungle on asbestos, David Murray, p.17, The Sunday Mail : 8 August 2010.
Seven Hills State School was forced to restrict access to outdoor areas after asbestos was found in September 2009.
Asbestos debris has also been found at the school in the past.
Education Queensland says that its asbestos removal program "continued" at the school.
Danger in school dust, P.4, The Courier-Mail : 21-22 November, 2009
Schoolkids exposed as asbestos found in ovals, sandpits, Tanya Chilcott, The Courier-Mail, 28 September, 2009.
She wants to warn ex-staff and children that they also were exposed to deadly asbestos in 1983.
The teacher, now in her early 60s, who worked at Shailer Park Pre-School from 1981 to 2006.
She was diagnosed with advanced mesothelioma, an inoperable terminal condition, only a month ago.
She has been told she has a limited life expectancy.
The woman has lodged a workers' compensation claim and last month filed a personal injuries damages claim for $765,540 in the Supreme Court in Brisbane.
Trent Johnson, an associate of law firm Maurice Blackburn, is urging children and staff who attended the pre-school in 1983 to consider having health checks.
Mr Johnson said Queensland Government documents confirmed the presence of asbestos within the original 1982 pre-school building and in extensions the following year.
The woman's claim says the building and construction work liberated "significant quantities" of asbestos dust, fibres and particles into the air, contaminating the classroom and play area where the woman worked.
The woman, her co-workers, parents and students inhaled asbestos dust, fibres and particles, it is alleged.
"Normal classes were conducted while the pre-school extensions were under construction and everyone who was at the site during the building works in early to mid-1983 would have been exposed to the asbestos dust," Mr Johnson said.
"This includes children who would now be in their early 30s, staff members and parents who dropped off and picked up their children."
Mesothelioma and asbestosis can take 10 to 50 years to develop.
A child at Springwood Central State School took a piece of asbestos home.
It is understood that children had been playing with the asbestos debris.
They seem to have found it in buried material from old school buildings.
The old material seems to have resurfaced.
Schoolkids exposed as asbestos found in ovals, sandpits, Tanya Chilcott, The Courier-Mail, 28 September, 2009:
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,26132837-952,00.html
Since the beginning of 2009, asbestos has been found in the sand pits of Tewantin State School four times.
In total, eight cases of asbestos have now been reported at the school.
Each time asbestos is found, the section is cordoned off until it is deemed safe, yet just a couple of months later another incident arises in another part of the playground.
In an incident during October 2009, access was restricted to Tewantin State School's junior playground after building debris containing asbestos was found.
Four days later the area was deemed safe.
Queensland Education director-general Julie Grantham said that qualified and independent authorities had provided a clearance before students and staff were allowed back into the areas.
Parents were notified again - twice - in September 2010.
The first notification went out when asbestos was found in the Prep playground area.
The second notification went out when it was found under the Grade 4 classrooms.
November 2010 Update :
Education Queensland’s acting deputy director-general, infrastructure services, Graham Atkins, told The Journal a security company was regularly patrolling Tewantin Primary School and the department was considering increasing patrols further.Building materials containing asbestos were again discovered in the School sandpit in November 2010.
Education Queensland and police would not comment on whether the building material had been dumped in the sandpit.
Mr Atkins said the school’s sandpits and play equipment had recently undergone an "extensive rectification process", with sand being sifted and installed over new geofabric material.
"This process, combined with advice from an asbestos expert, indicates that the latest asbestos-containing material could not have naturally occurred in the sandpit," Mr Atkins said.
"Therefore, the school has contacted local police of the discovery and they will investigate this matter further.
Asbestos shuts class, Tanya Chilcott, schools reporter, p. 4, The Courier-Mail : 21-22 November 2009.
Asbestos found in school sandbox, Tewantin, Queensland, Australia, 23 September 2010, Mesothelioma.com news
Police called in over school asbestos find, Sue Mikkelsen, The Noosa Journal, 19 November 2010 : http://noosa-journal.whereilive.com.au/news/story/police-called-in-over-school-asbestos-find/
A dust cloud was created as workers cut fibro wall sheeting.
Older-style fibro wall sheeting can contain up to 15 per cent of asbestos fibre.
The classroom remains off-limits while it is being decontaminated.
Valuable teaching resources that were in the classroom have had to be dumped.
May 17, 2009 update: It has now been revealed that a second building at Undurba State School was sealed off last week after testing found traces of Asbestos.
The building was tested on Monday 11 May.
Parents were notified the next day that two of the 27 swabs contained asbestos.
The building had been renovated during the 2008 September school holidays.
Although the building has now been blocked off, it is possible that children and adults had been in contact with asbestos during the months since the renovation.
November 21-22 2009 update : Undurba State School had another asbestos scare on 6 November 2009 when a fire extinguisher dislodged from a classroom wall, potentially releasing fibres.
Queensland Education director-general Julie Grantham said that qualified and independent authorities had provided a clearance before students and staff were allowed back into the area.
Many Warwick West State School parents became aware of an asbestos related incident on January 27 2011 and concerned parents rushed to the school to collect their kids.
A whistleblower at the heart of the mess said the school was aware of the presence of poisonous friable asbestos months prior to the incident and had called for tenders to remove the material.
He added a qualified asbestos removalist made school staff aware of the mismanagement of the material, after a load of asbestos was illegally dumped at the Morgan Park Waste Facility.
Despite the asbestos removalist’s pleas to the school authorities to close the school due to a unacceptable risk to staff and students, it remained open and parents were none the wiser for several days.
The Department of Education and Training’s Asbestos Management Plan says state school principals are responsible for the “preparation and notification of asbestos related incidents to parents and caregivers within 24 hours of first discovery by the school of an asbestos related incident”.
The Department of Education and Training (DET) has released an excerpt of a report – compiled by independent expert John Gaskin – which does not address the conduct and responsibilities of the departmental staff.
The industry whistleblower said the report was a “whitewash” and said he believed the incident was “covered up”.
http://www.warwickdailynews.com.au/story/2011/08/27/whistleblower-slams-report-as-cover-up/
Part of a Windaroo State School building had to be closed for four days after wall sheeting cracked during cabling work.
Queensland Education director-general Julie Grantham said that qualified and independent authorities had provided clearance before students and staff were allowed back into the area.
Asbestos shuts class, Tanya Chilcott, schools reporter, P.4, The Courier-Mail : 21-22 November, 2009
A Queensland teacher raised alarm bells with the state Education Department in September 2011 when tradesmen appeared unannounced to install a digital television satellite dish in a Departmental of Education residence.
The federal Communications Department suspended all installations under the Satellite Subsidy Scheme after it emerged that installations had been occurring in Queensland Education Department homes without approval.
About half are in remote indigenous communities in the Torres Strait and in Woorabinda, in central Queensland.
The exposure occurs when installers inadvertently dislodge asbestos when drilling through roofs, walls or floors in the affected homes.
Digital TV asbestos scare widens, Anthony Klan, The Australian, 5 October 2011 : http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/digital-tv-asbestos-scare-widens/story-fn59niix-1226158490534
14 July 2010 : During the last three days of term two 2010, and during the school holidays, contractors installed electronic whiteboards and projectors at Wulguru State School.
Testing has since confirmed that material containing asbestos was present in one of the classrooms.
The Education Department has contacted the parents of about 70 Townsville students who may have been exposed to asbestos.
2 September 2010 : An investigation was still under way into an incident (this seems to be a further incident) at Wulguru State School in August 2010, after the department received a report there was "an indication that staff and students were in some rooms while work had commenced".
Asbestos fears rising in Queensland state schools, Tanya Chilcott, The Courier-Mail, 2 September 2010 : http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/asbestos-fears-rising-in-queensland-state-schools/story-e6frg6oo-1225913074993 |
School fears shows asbestos management 'not working', Niki Lyons, Melissa Maddison and Sigrid Brown, ABC News : 14 July 2010
Fears Townsville students may have been exposed to asbestos, Niki Lyons and Sigrid Brown, ABC News : 14 July 2010.
