Students’ health and safety number 1 priority

Education Minister Peter Collier has assured parents that the State Government was taking every precaution with children’s health in managing asbestos in schools.

Mr Collier said the Western Australian Advisory Committee on Hazardous Substances had advised that exposure to asbestos cement material in WA public schools represented very little risk to health.

“Environmental health experts advise that undisturbed asbestos poses an extremely low risk to health, and where it is located in areas that are unlikely to be disturbed, there is no urgent need to remove it,” he said.

“That said, the State Government has an ongoing program of asbestos removal in schools where it presents a possible risk, and last financial year we spent about $2million on associated repairs and maintenance.”

Further, all asbestos roofing on Western Australian public schools has long since been removed and replaced under a program instituted by the former Liberal government.

The Minister said the thorough Building Condition Assessment reports carried out at every school provided a clear picture of where asbestos was located, and identified those spots where there could be a greater chance of the material being disturbed.

“Out of nearly 800 schools, there were only 14 schools where inspectors found one or two spots in the school where the risk rating was 1, meaning the asbestos is probably weathered and has a higher chance of being disturbed and exposed,” he said.

“Let me stress, this does not mean the whole school is at high risk.

“In those cases, the Department of Education acts quickly and assesses the best way to minimise any hazard.

“That may involve removing the asbestos altogether, which is done under controlled conditions and when no students or staff are present, or it may involve other work such as cutting off a tree branch that is brushing up against an asbestos panel, or sealing and enclosing the asbestos.

“Schools are in regular contact with the department if they have any health and safety concerns about their facilities, and experts can be quickly dispatched to assess the issue and fix it if necessary.”

Mr Collier said while it was disappointing Willetton Senior High School had to temporarily close this week, it was important no risks were taken with the safety of staff and students.

“I’m advised that qualified experts examining the Willetton site have advised that the risk to health is negligible,” he said.