The Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment (MBIE) said people need to stop using the Rainbow sand from Educational Colours and coloured sand from Creatistics immediately.
The products have been recalled because lab tests detected tremolite, a naturally occurring asbestos found in quartz, in the samples.
“We are taking immediate precautionary action while we establish the extent and risk of the potentially contaminated product,” MBIE product safety spokesperson Ian Caplin said.
“Stop using the sand, contain it, secure it in a safe place and arrange for safe disposal through licensed professionals; a list of these is available on the WorkSafe website.”
MBIE said that although testing of the New Zealand product is still underway, the company Educational Colours has issued a recall notice as a precaution.
“Asbestos is a serious health hazard, and we are working with Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora, the Ministry of Education and WorkSafe to provide guidance for consumers and workplaces which may have bought these products.”
If you have the sand, stop using it immediately. Place the sand in a sealed container and store it securely away from people. Do not dispose of it in general waste.
WorkSafe strongly recommends hiring a Class A licensed asbestos removalist for safe disposal, and a list of licensed removalists is available on the WorkSafe website.
Once the sand is secured, it is advised to contact the supplier to arrange a refund under the Consumer Guarantees Act.
For workplaces, if the product is already in a sealed container, it should be moved to a secure location away from people to minimise any risk of exposure. If the sand is being used in your workplace, instruct everyone to exit the area, restrict access by blocking it off, and ensure it remains inaccessible.
Avoid vacuuming or sweeping floors that contain sand, and do not try to clean it up.
Contacting a licensed asbestos assessor or removalist promptly for advice is also necessary.
Do not re-enter the affected area until an expert has assessed the level of contamination and completed the remediation. If anyone is using the sand, they should stop immediately and move to a sand-free, well-ventilated area.
If an educational facility discovers that the sand has been used on its premises, it should inform the Ministry of Education and provide details of the actions taken to date.
All clothing worn during exposure should be discarded as asbestos waste as part of personal decontamination.