The head of the federal government's asbestos eradication agency has advised parents of Newcastle East Public School students to list their children on the government's asbestos exposure register as a precaution.
Peter Tighe said while it may seem like an extreme step, it would give students greater security if they developed symptoms related to asbestos exposure later in life.
The register was created seven years ago to record the details of people who believe they have been exposed to asbestos either in the workplace or the community.
"It [the register] is not for public access," Mr Tighe, who has been chief executive of the Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency since 2013, said.
"If parents are worried I think it would be wise to put their children on the register because it would provide a formal record of potential exposure."
Detection of asbestos exposure in children is problematic given that it normally takes many years for symptoms to appear.
Mr Tighe said individuals who are exposed to an asbestos risk in their workplace are required to receive a formal notification from their employer about the incident.
"If someone is exposed to asbestos in their workplace they normally get a letter from their employer advising them of the exposure. It's not a legally binding document but it gives people the opportunity to see where they were exposed.
"The Department of Education could do that but I imagine they are reluctant to do so because it would make them the first respondent to any litigation," he said.
In a document prepared in response to parents' questions last week, the Department of Education advised concerned parents to initially consult a GP but also noted that registering children on the national register was also an option.
The department also said it had appropriate insurance in place for current and former staff and students.
Mr Tighe said the undetected presence of Super 6 sheeting was extremely worrying.
"What was the quality of the school's asbestos register? The register is supposed to be reviewed by a certified person every five years," he said.
Meanwhile, Safework NSW has confirmed that a "clerical error" was responsible for an incorrect licence number being listed on an asbestos clearance certificate issued for the school. The licence number listed on the certificate was linked to a Sydney building company that has not been involved with the project.
A safework spokesman said the certificate would be reissued.
Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp said he would be seeking an assurance from the government that all asbestos removalists involved in the project were appropriately qualified.
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