source : the age
A north Brisbane school has issued a warning to families and shut down a classroom after part of a ceiling tile containing asbestos fell during class on Thursday.
The Education Department said the piece of ceiling was dislodged from a workshop classroom at Albany Creek State High School, with one student claiming it had been broken off after one of their peers tugged on a power cord connected to the ceiling.
“Access to the area where the incident occurred was immediately restricted and QBuild was engaged to remediate and provide clearance for re-occupation,” a department spokesperson said.
Three students were in the room at the time. Items also in the room, including those belonging to students, were quarantined for testing.
The school, built in 1981, was known to contain asbestos in some of its buildings.
One member of the school community told Brisbane Times she was surprised at families’ responses following a letter sent from Principal Derek Weeks on Thursday detailing the incident.
“If you’ve ever worked or volunteered in a school, you know how seriously they take the asbestos thing,” she said.
On Friday, the Education Department confirmed the tile piece was “asbestos-containing”.
“The school is working closely with impacted students and families to address any concerns, including regarding personal belongings that may have been affected,” the department said.
Albany Creek State High School has 1550 students currently enrolled, and sits on Brisbane’s outer northern suburbs, about 20 kilometres from the city centre.
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