04.17 am, Wednesday February 15 2012

Asbestos fears at another Qld school

13:44 AEDT Fri Mar 12 2010
By David Barbeler
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A fourth school in Queensland is being investigated for asbestos contamination, after fears a classroom of students was showered with the potentially fatal substance.

The 20 schoolchildren were blanketed in dust after a classroom ceiling at Mirani State High in the Mackay region sagged.

However, Education Queensland deputy director-general Alan Wagner reassured parents that the ceiling did not fall.

"Subsequent testing did not identify any asbestos containing debris within the room," Mr Wagner said.

"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.

The classroom is still restricted and repair work has been scheduled for March 22.

The incident comes one day after the state government revealed it was looking to sue a contractor that conducted asbestos removal work at Mackay North State High School, potentially putting up to 1500 students at risk for six months.

Asbestos fears were also raised for 500 students at Moranbah East State School, where asbestos was found and removed.

The latest three incidents have occurred one month after the state government launched an investigation into the removal of asbestos at Mackay West Primary School, after allegations QBuild breached workplace safety laws.

Education Minister Geoff Wilson on Thursday said it was "merely coincidence" that all incidents in the past month were in the Mackay region, and he believed different contractors were involved.

It was the principal's responsibility to ensure the safety of students and staff when it came to asbestos-related incidents, he said.

"Any failure to fulfil those obligations will result in disciplinary action," he said.

Opposition education spokesman Dr Bruce Flegg said the state government's response to asbestos has been inadequate, accusing the government of playing the blame game.

 
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