Ventilation system ‘not-fit-for-purpose’, union says, after three poisoned at TAFE
After three people were poisoned at TAFE the union says members had been warning for more than a year about the insufficient ventilation in its automotive workshop. VIDEO >>
Tasmania
Don't miss out on the headlines from Tasmania. Followed categories will be added to My News.
TasTAFE students and teachers had complained of fumes and headaches for more than a year before two students and a teacher were taken to hospital for treatment for carbon monoxide poisoning last week.
The teacher involved in the incident continues to receive outpatient care for his injuries, according to TasTAFE automotive teacher and health and safety representative Tristan Sabol, who has been teaching automotive students for 20 years.
Mr Sabol, also the deputy president of the Australian Education Union TasTAFE division, said concerns about the ventilation of the area had been repeatedly raised to TasTAFE.
“It’s a training environment where we’re training students and we have this system to take away the fumes, but if the system fails there’s no backup system to let us know. So I’m concerned about my health as well,” Mr Sabol said.
He believes TasTAFE was failing in its health and safety requirements by not having CO2 monitoring in place.
AEU Tasmania president David Genford said the union had serious concerns someone could die from poisoning if TasTAFE did not fix the system before students return next year.
A WorkSafe Tasmania investigation is in progress and a TasTAFE spokesperson said it continued to fully co-operate to identify the cause of the incident and would release those findings as soon as possible.
The spokesperson said the workshop had been released but the static engine that was in use at the time of the incident remains “locked out” and would not be brought back into service until released by WorkSafe.
“TasTAFE takes the safety and well-being of all staff and learners very seriously; it is our highest priority.”
An independent report into air quality at the TasTAFE Campbell St automotive department was requested after fume and odour issues were raised by staff in the offices of the lower floors of the building earlier in the year.
The investigation by TCM building services began on October 28, 2024 and found the ground floor workshop had a low air exchange which meant when vehicles are started there “may not be sufficient air for the general air extraction and the exhaust extraction to operate efficiently and vehicle emissions will build up in the workshop”.
On November 25, 2024 two fourth year apprentices and a teacher were overexposed to carbon monoxide and taken to the Royal Hobart hospital for treatment in a hyperbaric chamber. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy delivers pure oxygen at a higher air pressure in a special chamber.
TCM Building services inspected and tested the automotive area ventilation system and provided the report to TasTAFE on November 29, 2024. The system was broken down into 25 systems and TCM found none of the systems were “intrinsically safe” as the wiring and motors were of standard construction, not suitable for explosive fumes.
The report found the primary issue was that when the exhaust system was turned on the air was coming in unfiltered and subject to wind influence.
More Coverage
Originally published as Ventilation system ‘not-fit-for-purpose’, union says, after three poisoned at TAFE
60-year-old man dies while competing in triathlon
A man has died while competing in the swim leg of the Coles Bay Triathlon. What we know.
‘Unflappable’: Hobart Cup caller does homework for 35th race
He’s been described as ‘unflappable’ but Colin McNiff knows he must be well prepared ahead of the calling of his 35th Hobart Cup. Find out his secrets to success.