16 Feb 2024
Information for the school community
The following information is for the Castle Hill High School community about court proceedings currently underway.
Health and safety at school
The health, safety, and wellbeing of students and staff at Castle Hill High School are the highest priorities for the Department of Education.
Castle Hill High School is safe for all students and staff to learn and work.
The department has engaged occupational hygienists to check the school facilities and appropriate clearance certificates have been received to ensure the site is safe.
Court proceedings – Castle Hill High School
SafeWork NSW has commenced court proceedings against the Department of Education for alleged breaches of the Work Health and Safety (WHS) Act relating to the management of asbestos at Castle Hill High School over the period April 2015 and October 2018.
Charges were laid in the NSW District Court on 15 February 2024.
We will continue to keep you informed about the progress of the court proceedings.
SafeWork NSW
The department has cooperated fully with SafeWork NSW throughout its investigations, and we are committed to continuing to work with SafeWork NSW over the coming weeks and months as the proceedings are resolved.
We continue to consult independent experts and relevant regulators on the best course of action when managing and remediating asbestos in all schools, including Castle Hill High School.
Support available
The department is supporting its students, their families and staff during this period with important information and with practical support and counselling services as necessary.
The school will work with families who have students needing support. Further information on supports available for students can be found on the department’s website.
About asbestos
Asbestos is the name given to a group of naturally occurring fibrous minerals that are resistant to heat and corrosion. Due to these properties, it was used in the construction and building industry for many years. Asbestos was commonly used between the 1940s and late 1980s and is present today in materials of the era such as cement sheeting, some old heaters, vinyl floor tiles, insulation and wall lining.
Asbestos is no longer used in construction and refurbishment works at public schools.
The vast majority of materials containing asbestos is safe. Studies show that if the material is left undisturbed and is in sound condition it poses no risk to health.
Asbestos used in building materials takes several forms:
- Bonded asbestos (non-friable) is attached to other materials such as cement or vinyl and cannot be crumbled or powdered by light pressure. Bonded asbestos does not pose a risk to human health if it is not disturbed because it does not become airborne.
- Non-bonded asbestos (friable) – any material that contains asbestos and is in a powder form or can be crumbled, pulverised or reduced to powder by hand pressure when dry. If disturbed, these fibres can become airborne. Friable asbestos can be inhaled and damage a person’s health.
- Vermiculite is a product that can be combined with asbestos. Test data shows less than 2% of vermiculite in NSW schools contains asbestos. The department has an ongoing remediation program for vermiculite containing asbestos.
The department takes its responsibility in managing asbestos very seriously.
Asbestos management
The department has made significant improvements over recent years to asbestos management at Castle Hill High School and at all public schools in NSW, and particularly as part of a detailed review it initiated in 2023.
These improvements include:
- Improving support to schools in managing asbestos by increasing the number of Asset Services Officers (ASOs) to oversee schools;
- Publishing asbestos registers online within 24 hours of changes being made;
- Doubling the number of asbestos resurvey inspections undertaken this financial year;
- Updating systems to ensure building contractors confirm that they have seen the school asbestos register before they commence work at a school;
- Undertaking a proactive inspection of all Wyndham buildings. In buildings where friable asbestos was identified in roof cavities, licensed contractors implemented approved control measures. (Castle Hill High School is a Wyndham building, a common type of design used for schools in the 1950s-1970s.)
- Rolling out asbestos training through an online module, which is mandatory for principals, ASOs and Work Health and Safety advisers.
- Revising the Asbestos Management Plan, incorporating external legal advice to simplify and clarify the guidance – the next step is consultation.
Asbestos register
The department's schools asbestos register contains information about the existence and location of any known or presumed asbestos-containing materials on school sites.
For each school in the register, you will find an Asbestos Management Plan and a Site-Specific Management Plan for a small number of schools where we have found and remediated in-ground asbestos.
Asbestos registers are updated on the website within 24 hours of changes being made.
Asbestos at other schools
The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) undertook testing of mulch at Liverpool West Public School on Saturday 10 February 2024 and detected asbestos was present in the mulch. There is no connection between this find and the matter at Castle Hill High School. The bonded asbestos which was found at Liverpool West Public School has been linked to the same supply chain as other mulch across Sydney in January 2024. All mulch at Liverpool West Public School is being removed and replaced to meet EPA and NSW SafeWork requirements.
Information
The Department of Education is committed to communicating in a transparent and forthcoming manner. As the following matter is before the courts, there are some restrictions on what information can be released. We will keep this page updated as new information becomes available that we are able to share.