❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice addresses concerns about the use of leaf blowers at Como Secondary College, potential asbestos contamination, and the functionality of the school's Occupational Safety and Health Committee. The Minister provides responses addressing the specific concerns raised.
AnsweredQoN 5699Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the Minister’s correspondence of 15 June 2010 with Dr Alan Purcell in relation to the use of leaf blowers to clean corridors at Como Secondary College, and I ask:
(a) what plans were put in place to ensure cleaners did not use leaf blowers to clean indoor areas of the school, given that the use of such blowers has happened early in the morning before school administration staff have arrived at the school;
(b) were those plans carried out and can the Minister guarantee that the practice has stopped completely;
(c) what method is currently being used to clean the corridors in question at Como Secondary College;
(d) are leaf blowers used to clean indoor areas of any other schools and if so, which schools and what areas of the school are they used in;
(e) are leaf blowers used in outdoor areas of any schools in a manner that allows dust and other debris to enter classrooms or other internal areas and if so, in which schools;
(f) does Como Secondary College have a functioning Occupational Safety and Health Committee to which complaints like Dr Purcell’s can be taken, and if not
(i) why not; and
(ii) will the Minister commit to ensuring all Western Australian public schools have a functioning Occupational Safety and Health Committee and if not, why not?
(g) in relation to the photographs enclosed in Dr Purcell’s letter to the Minister of 11 June 2011:
(i) will the Minister confirm whether or not the material dumped in the Como Secondary College’s grounds contained asbestos and if not, why not;
(ii) will the Minister confirm whether the material has since been disposed of in accordance with mandated asbestos handling procedures and if not, why not;
(iii) has the Education Department undertaken testing in the school, especially in the areas where leaf blowers were/are used, to determine whether asbestos fibres are present, and if not:
(A) why not; and
(B) will the Minister commit to undertaking such testing and if not, why not?
(iv) has the Education Department undertaken air sampling of the school corridors to test for airborne particles, including asbestos, and if not:
(A) why not;
(B) will the Minister commit to undertaking such testing and if not, why not; and
(C) If yes to (B), and if leaf blowers are still in use in those areas, will the Minister commit to undertaking such testing at a time when the leaf blowers are in use, and if not, why not;
(D) will the Minister table the results of any such testing in the Parliament and if not, why not;
(h) in relation to Page 37 of the notes from cleaning staff induction workshops 2010 by the Education Department Strategic Asset Planning, Infrastructure Directorate, which shows a photograph of a cleaner using a leaf blower on a floor:
(i) was that photograph taken in an indoor area and if not, where was it taken;
(ii) does the Minister agree that the photograph appears to demonstrate the use of a leaf blower indoors, in contravention of your statement to Dr Purcell that the Education Department does not permit the use of leaf blowers in enclosed areas and if not, why not;
(iii) if the Minister agrees that the photograph could be misleading, will the Minister agree to replacing the photograph in the workshop notes and ensure that the ban on using leaf blowers indoors is given extra emphasis in future workshops and if not, why not;
(i) does the Minister agree that the use of leaf blowers, rather than vacuum cleaners, as cleaning devices in schools constitutes a danger to the health of children in those schools, especially those children with asthma or other respiratory conditions, and if not, why not?
(a) what plans were put in place to ensure cleaners did not use leaf blowers to clean indoor areas of the school, given that the use of such blowers has happened early in the morning before school administration staff have arrived at the school;
(b) were those plans carried out and can the Minister guarantee that the practice has stopped completely;
(c) what method is currently being used to clean the corridors in question at Como Secondary College;
(d) are leaf blowers used to clean indoor areas of any other schools and if so, which schools and what areas of the school are they used in;
(e) are leaf blowers used in outdoor areas of any schools in a manner that allows dust and other debris to enter classrooms or other internal areas and if so, in which schools;
(f) does Como Secondary College have a functioning Occupational Safety and Health Committee to which complaints like Dr Purcell’s can be taken, and if not
(i) why not; and
(ii) will the Minister commit to ensuring all Western Australian public schools have a functioning Occupational Safety and Health Committee and if not, why not?
(g) in relation to the photographs enclosed in Dr Purcell’s letter to the Minister of 11 June 2011:
(i) will the Minister confirm whether or not the material dumped in the Como Secondary College’s grounds contained asbestos and if not, why not;
(ii) will the Minister confirm whether the material has since been disposed of in accordance with mandated asbestos handling procedures and if not, why not;
(iii) has the Education Department undertaken testing in the school, especially in the areas where leaf blowers were/are used, to determine whether asbestos fibres are present, and if not:
(A) why not; and
(B) will the Minister commit to undertaking such testing and if not, why not?
(iv) has the Education Department undertaken air sampling of the school corridors to test for airborne particles, including asbestos, and if not:
(A) why not;
(B) will the Minister commit to undertaking such testing and if not, why not; and
(C) If yes to (B), and if leaf blowers are still in use in those areas, will the Minister commit to undertaking such testing at a time when the leaf blowers are in use, and if not, why not;
(D) will the Minister table the results of any such testing in the Parliament and if not, why not;
(h) in relation to Page 37 of the notes from cleaning staff induction workshops 2010 by the Education Department Strategic Asset Planning, Infrastructure Directorate, which shows a photograph of a cleaner using a leaf blower on a floor:
(i) was that photograph taken in an indoor area and if not, where was it taken;
(ii) does the Minister agree that the photograph appears to demonstrate the use of a leaf blower indoors, in contravention of your statement to Dr Purcell that the Education Department does not permit the use of leaf blowers in enclosed areas and if not, why not;
(iii) if the Minister agrees that the photograph could be misleading, will the Minister agree to replacing the photograph in the workshop notes and ensure that the ban on using leaf blowers indoors is given extra emphasis in future workshops and if not, why not;
(i) does the Minister agree that the use of leaf blowers, rather than vacuum cleaners, as cleaning devices in schools constitutes a danger to the health of children in those schools, especially those children with asthma or other respiratory conditions, and if not, why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
11 August 2011
Responded by
Minister for Education
Response time
57 days
In relation to (a)-(h)(i), I am advised by the Department of Education as follows:
(a)-(b) In response to the complaint from the school gardener, Dr Alan Purcell, an Environmental Services Officer from the Department of Education visited ComoSecondaryCollegeto discuss the use of blowers by school cleaners with the Business Manager. The practice of using a leaf blower to clean the enclosed walkway ceased, and the school cleaners were advised that it was an unacceptable practice to use blowers in any enclosed area. Staff are expected to comply with Departmental policy and practice.
(c) Brooms or vacuum cleaners are used to clean the enclosed corridors at the school.
(d) The Department of Education does not endorse the use of leaf blowers to clean indoor areas.
(e) When used correctly, leaf blowers do not allow dust and other debris to enter classrooms and other internal areas.
(f)(i)-(ii) The school has advised that the establishment of an Occupational Safety and Health Committee has not been requested by any staff member in accordance with Part 4, Division 2 of the
Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984.
(g)(i)-(ii) Material of an unknown origin was reported to have been dumped by persons unknown in an area of undeveloped land between the school and the Collier Park Golf Course. Although the Department has some doubt as to whether this was actually on the school grounds, it was removed within hours of being reported by Dr Purcell. As such it is not now possible to establish whether the material contained asbestos fibre.
(g)(iii)- (g)(iv)(B) The school's Asbestos Register details the location of asbestos containing material in the school and, as there is no indication that any of the asbestos containing material at the school has been disturbed, there is no reason to undertake any testing.
(g)(iv)(C) - (g)(iv)(D) Not applicable.
(h)(i) The photo was taken in an unenclosed undercover assembly area.
(h)(ii)-(i) The member is seeking an expression of opinion.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
(a)-(b) In response to the complaint from the school gardener, Dr Alan Purcell, an Environmental Services Officer from the Department of Education visited ComoSecondaryCollegeto discuss the use of blowers by school cleaners with the Business Manager. The practice of using a leaf blower to clean the enclosed walkway ceased, and the school cleaners were advised that it was an unacceptable practice to use blowers in any enclosed area. Staff are expected to comply with Departmental policy and practice.
(c) Brooms or vacuum cleaners are used to clean the enclosed corridors at the school.
(d) The Department of Education does not endorse the use of leaf blowers to clean indoor areas.
(e) When used correctly, leaf blowers do not allow dust and other debris to enter classrooms and other internal areas.
(f)(i)-(ii) The school has advised that the establishment of an Occupational Safety and Health Committee has not been requested by any staff member in accordance with Part 4, Division 2 of the
Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984.
(g)(i)-(ii) Material of an unknown origin was reported to have been dumped by persons unknown in an area of undeveloped land between the school and the Collier Park Golf Course. Although the Department has some doubt as to whether this was actually on the school grounds, it was removed within hours of being reported by Dr Purcell. As such it is not now possible to establish whether the material contained asbestos fibre.
(g)(iii)- (g)(iv)(B) The school's Asbestos Register details the location of asbestos containing material in the school and, as there is no indication that any of the asbestos containing material at the school has been disturbed, there is no reason to undertake any testing.
(g)(iv)(C) - (g)(iv)(D) Not applicable.
(h)(i) The photo was taken in an unenclosed undercover assembly area.
(h)(ii)-(i) The member is seeking an expression of opinion.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.