SOME form of asbestos or presumed asbestos has been found at all public schools in the Manning River Times readership area, but there is no cause for alarm.
Every government school is listed on the New South Wales Department of Education and Training asbestos register with full results now available on the internet.
The most reports of asbestos in this area were at Taree West Public School with 139 (all low risk) and the least at Ghinni Ghinni with only one.
The most common form of asbestos found was chrysotile (white), with some schools also containing amosite (brown) and crocidolite (blue).
The asbestos is mainly found or presumed in ceiling structures/ lining, wall linings internal, floor coverings (vinyl tiles), within partition walls in toilet cubicles, the lining of eaves outside, sometimes wall cladding and in-fill panels.
Less common but found locally was asbestos in distribution board covers, exterior louvres, Thermacon heaters, electrical mounting boards, gable verge linings, awnings, steps and incinerettes in toilets.
Asbestos is not dangerous until it is disturbed and the majority of schools have been found to be in good condition and deemed low risk by the Education Department, meaning they pose a low risk to people's heath as long as they remain undisturbed.
Only two schools recorded one case of medium risk each, where there is a medium potential for the material to release asbestos fibres, if disturbed. Hannam Vale has an amenities block (toilets/ shelter) that has some damage and is unsealed; while at Johns River the incinerette in the girls toilets is presumed to have asbestos encapsulated in the unit and is in a friable condition.
According to the report, friable asbestos is any material which contains asbestos in a powder form or can be crumbled, pulverised or reduced to powder by hand pressure when dry; bonded asbestos which is broken by removal, burnt, subject to mechanical action, buried or hail damaged. Inhaling asbestos, especially in a regular working environment, can lead to a number of health issues including lung disease and cancer.
The complete survey results for each school can be found at the Department of Education website at www.det.nsw.edu.au