The NSW Government advises that latest SafeWork NSW testing detected no respirable asbestos fibres in nationally recalled coloured sand products, aligning with enHealth advice that there is a very low health risk related to the recently recalled coloured sand products.
These products can now be double bagged and safely disposed of in the regular NSW kerbside red bins due to the testing results showing results below respirable levels.
This advice is different to asbestos containing materials like fibro sheeting, which must not be placed in household kerbside bins.
This advice follows the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission publishing a voluntary product recall notice to supplier Educational Colours for colourful children’s sand products sold at Kmart, Officeworks, Educating Kids, Modern Teaching Aids and Zart Art as some initial testing detected the possible presence of tremolite asbestos. The products recalled were labelled as Kadink Sand (1.3kg), Educational Colours – Rainbow Sand (1.3kg) and Creatistics – Coloured Sand (1kg).
SafeWork NSW has been working with other regulators including the ACCC regarding the voluntary product recall of coloured sand products. SafeWork NSW acknowledges that the situation with these products is different across states and territories.
SafeWork NSW has conducted tests on samples of coloured sand products named by the ACCC as part of the national voluntary recall to determine the level of community exposure to asbestos from these products.
The tested materials showed no respirable asbestos fibres were identified.
The testing was undertaken by an Australian National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) accredited laboratory, in accordance with an Australian Standard and analysed by an industry expert.
In NSW, we will continue to test recalled products and monitor the situation and will conduct further analysis or investigation of any new evidence which comes to light.
As a precautionary measure, Safe Work advises that all recalled coloured sands should be removed from use and disposed of in accordance with EPA advice.
The SafeWork testing results align with the enHealth advice that there is very low risk to human health from these products
Based on the enHealth advice, and SafeWork testing results, the precautionary disposal advice in NSW is as follows:
•The coloured sand products listed in the ACCC product recall can be disposed double-bagged in the red lid bin (this means placed in a heavy-duty plastic bag and taped securely and then place that bag in another plastic bag and taped again). Waste in red lid bins are ordinarily disposed of at licensed waste facilities.
•Any cloths used for cleaning up where the product was used should also be double bagged, as per the above advice.
Similarly, based on the enHealth advice, and SafeWork testing results, occupational hygienists or asbestos hygienists generally should not be required to clean sites where the sand was used.
This advice has been developed by the NSW Government’s Asbestos Taskforce, a cross-government response group that’s objective is to co-ordinate management actions for asbestos contamination incidents.
While the SafeWork testing aligns with the enHealth advice of very low health risk, the NSW Government took immediate precautionary action last week and sent a safety alert to all NSW schools to immediately and safely remove these sand products if they had them. As a result of these actions and now confirmed by the testing, no NSW public schools were required to close after the product recall. The health, safety, and wellbeing of students, staff, and the school community is always the highest priority.
The NSW Early Childhood Education and Care Regulatory Authority provided advice to all approved services in New South Wales on 14 and 18 November 2025 on the required next steps.
Queries about refunds should be directed to the retailer that the recalled product was purchased from.
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