ASBESTOS IN SOME PLAY SAND PRODUCTS – IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED
Posted on: 14 May 2026
From: Steve Langston, Health, Safety and Wellbeing Manager
Action: If you have any of the affected products on your school site, STOP USING THEM IMMEDIATELY and follow these disposal instructions:
If the product is still in its packaging and hasn’t been used, place it in a heavy-duty plastic bag, double bag and tape it securely, label it clearly and store it in a secure location out of the reach of children and staff.
If the sand has been used:
Immediately If the product is a toy and the sand is still contained inside or sand is glued onto a picture or some left over sand is secure in a tub or sealed bag or similar, double bag and tape it securely, label it clearly and store it in a secure location out of the reach of children and staff.
Then seek support of the Health, Safety and Wellbeing duty officer providing the following details:
Product Information
How the product was used
Duration of use and estimated dates
Also please report the incident as a Near Miss on My H&S
Disposal of any affected products that are unopened, opened or used products would need to be undertaken by a licensed asbestos contractor. Please contact the duty team for further advice.
Contact us…
Health, Safety and Wellbeing Duty Line
by telephone: 01785 355777
by email: shss@staffordshire.gov.uk
What you need to do
- Look at the official guidance, Asbestos in consumer products, which was published on 13 May 2026.
- Within this guidance, there is a link to the latest list of recalled products. We’re not providing the link in this alert, in case the government changes it at some future point. The link to the latest list of recalled products should remain within their official guidance, so please access it from there.
- Check to see if you have the product in question and that it is indeed one of the recalled products and not just a similar one.
The disposal advice in the government guidance is largely targeted at consumers. Schools are employer business premises and must follow appropriate asbestos management practices.
