Education Minister Jo Palmer is under renewed scrutiny after Budget Estimates today revealed that DECYP issued incomplete and unsafe directions to school staff about handling suspected asbestos-contaminated sand.
DECYP’s written advice encouraged staff to physically handle and bag the material but failed to recommend – or require – the use of personal protective equipment (PPE).
The guidance, sent to schools on 14 November, was lifted almost word-for-word from the ACCC recall notice except for omitting crucial instructions directing staff to wear disposable gloves, a P2 mask and protective eyewear.
DECYP also failed to provide any PPE to schools for the purpose of handling contaminated sand.
When questioned, the DECYP Secretary admitted the omission was a mistake and could not explain why the correct safety directions were not issued.
Pressed further, the embattled Minister conceded that “in hindsight” she would have preferred “stronger language” referring to gloves and masks.
Instead of acknowledging the risk, the Minister repeatedly downplayed concerns, insisting the contaminated sand was “low risk”.
AEU Tasmania State Manager Brian Wightman said this response was unacceptable.
“‘Low risk’ does not mean safe. Failing to instruct staff to wear PPE while handling asbestos-contaminated material is negligent by any standard,” Mr Wightman said. “This omission exposed educators and school staff to a completely avoidable hazard and it happened on the Minister’s watch.”
“This is yet another case of the Minister being asleep at the wheel during a crisis, then minimising the seriousness of the issue. Staff were left without proper instructions and without PPE because the Minister failed to ensure complete and accurate safety advice reached every school.”
“When asbestos is involved, there is no margin for error. Educators deserved clear safety directions from the start but the Minister has yet again failed in her duty of care as their employer.”
Concerns aren’t just limited to failures to provide PPE. Educators are now questioning why staff are still being asked to attend schools that are closed due to being deemed unsafe for students.
“Everyone knows sand goes everywhere,” said Mr Wightman. “Educators are saying the sand has been spread to ‘every crevice’ of their schools, not just the rooms it was used in. We are concerned the Minister is continuing to downplay a very serious safety issue and continuing to needlessly place staff in danger.”
“We would expect the Minister to take the strongest possible precautions to protect everyone in schools, and only allow staff and students in schools where it has been confirmed, on a case-by-case basis, that the contamination has not spread.”
