Key Highlights
- Australian lab chance discovery led to national safety recall of children’s play sand.
- Contamination found in sand imported from China by two Victorian suppliers.
- NZ authorities alerted Australian regulators after lab manager mentioned findings in podcast interview.
- ACCC announced mandatory recall and schools across Australia closed due to potential asbestos risk.
The Chance Discovery of Asbestos in Children’s Play Sand
A rare, expensive transmission electron microscope was used by a Brisbane laboratory, COHLABS, to confirm the chance discovery of asbestos contamination in children’s play sand. The ABC can reveal that this incident was discovered by Michael Shepherd, co-owner and manager of the lab, during routine testing for internal training purposes.
Rare Discovery and Lab Manager’s Role
Shepherd mentioned the findings to Robert McAllister, a director of the Faculty of Asbestos Management of Australia and New Zealand (FAMANZ), in an interview for their “Asbestos Still Kills” podcast. This conversation took place late last month, with McAllister alerting NZ authorities on November 5.
Regulatory Response and Industry-Wide Impact
NZ regulator WorkSafe immediately alerted Australian workplace safety authorities about the contaminated sand, which had also been sold in New Zealand. On November 12, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) announced a national safety recall for several brands of the children’s sand.
As a result, schools in the ACT, Queensland, and South Australia were temporarily closed as part of the clean-up process. Education Colours, one of the suppliers involved, stated that they are working closely with regulators to address this issue. The other supplier, Shamrock Australia, has not yet responded to requests for comment.
Technical Details and Safety Concerns
The Brisbane laboratory uses a transmission electron microscope, which is extremely rare in Australia and can identify specific forms of asbestos like tremolite. COHLABS was bound by client confidentiality until the results were released this month. The risk to children playing with the sand remains under scrutiny.
ACCC officials stated that the contamination was not suspected during initial testing, which was conducted for internal training purposes and machine testing. They emphasized that they first became aware of the issue through a working group on workplace health and safety.
Finding Resolutions and Future Actions
The immediate actions taken by regulators have led to the voluntary recalls issued by suppliers. Play areas across Australia are being tested for asbestos, with the aim of ensuring children’s safety. Experts argue that while the risk is low in non-respirable form, further testing may be necessary to confirm these findings.
Industry professionals stress the importance of rigorous safety protocols and oversight in manufacturing and importing products used by children. The incident highlights the critical role of independent laboratory verification and the potential for chance discoveries to have significant public health implications.
