Asbestos in schools
Please note: some information on this site may not be applicable to non-government schools.
Asbestos is a naturally occurring fibrous form of mineral silicates belonging to the serpentine or amiphobole groups of rock-forming minerals including amosite (brown asbestos), chrysotile (white asbestos) and crocidolite (blue asbestos). There are two main forms of asbestos, friable and non-friable.
Asbestos cement material has been widely used as a building product in both the public and private sectors. In the Northern Territory, many schools were constructed using asbestos cement material specifically in walls, ceilings, roofs, eaves, fire doors, floor tiles and in mechanical services plant rooms.
- School handbook (pdf 596 kb) - assists principals in managing asbestos in schools and the implementation of safety procedures involving the removal of asbestos. Please review the list of personal protective equipment prior to beginning work that does not require a licensed asbestos removalist.
- Flier for schools (pdf 65 kb) - information on how to manage asbestos in schools and how to respond to a suspected asbestos incident
- Asbestos presentation for school staff (pdf 812 kb)
- Asbestos presentation for school children (pdf 368 kb)
- Asbestos surveying in the 73 NTER communities (pdf 37 kb)
- Australian Government asbestos management in your community (pdf 431 kb)
For more details about asbestos please visit the Asbestos Alert website.
Incident report
If a principal believes any staff member or student has been exposed to asbestos on school grounds they must complete an incident report form (word 137 kb) and submit it to the Department of Education and Training via fax 8999 5711.
Frequently asked questions
How can I find out if my child's school has asbestos?
The school principal should be able to provide you with this information. Where asbestos is present at the school, an asbestos register should be in place detailing its location.
If a school contains asbestos, is my child safe from exposure?
Provided the asbestos material is in good condition (i.e. wall sheeting not broken or damaged) there is no risk of exposure from asbestos fibres. The risk to health only exists where asbestos fibres have been released into the air and have been inhaled.
Do schools have information on where asbestos is located within their structures?
Schools that contain asbestos in structures or fixtures should have an asbestos register setup that identifies the asbestos location(s). The register is generally held at the school administration and in most cases is controlled through the school administration manager. The school principal is able to advise you on where asbestos is located in the school.
If the school is being renovated is it safe for my child to attend?
Yes, the school will have procedures to ensure children are not exposed to risk by any work being carried out. In addition any work involving asbestos will were practicable be undertaken out of school hours. Any work involving asbestos is controlled through safe working procedures as outlined under the National Code of Practice for the Safe Removal of Asbestos 2nd Edition [NOHSC:2002(2005)]
What happens if asbestos is damaged while my child is at school?
The damage must be reported immediately to the school principal who will ensure that the site is isolated to keep children and staff out of the area. The principal will contact the relevant authorities to implement the appropriate controls of the damage site.
Contacts
Planning and Infrastructure
Department of Education and Training
t: (08) 8901 4928