❓ A parliamentary question regarding the Department of Education's record-keeping and monitoring practices related to pesticide, herbicide, and biocide use in schools. The response clarifies responsibilities and procedures.
AnsweredQoN 8865Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Does the Department keep records of the types and amounts of pesticides, herbicides and biocides that schools use on their gardens, ovals, playgrounds and buildings, and if no, why not?
(2) Does the Department require schools to notify parents when pesticides, herbicides and biocides are applied on school grounds or inside buildings, and if no, why not?
(3) Does the Department monitor the effectiveness of applications of pesticides, herbicides and biocides on school grounds and in buildings, and if no, why not?
(4) Does the Department maintain a record of the effectiveness or otherwise of the application of pesticides, herbicides and biocides on school grounds and in buildings and if no, why not?
(5) Does the Department maintain a record of any adverse experience associated with the application of a pesticide, herbicide and biocide on school grounds and in buildings?
(2) Does the Department require schools to notify parents when pesticides, herbicides and biocides are applied on school grounds or inside buildings, and if no, why not?
(3) Does the Department monitor the effectiveness of applications of pesticides, herbicides and biocides on school grounds and in buildings, and if no, why not?
(4) Does the Department maintain a record of the effectiveness or otherwise of the application of pesticides, herbicides and biocides on school grounds and in buildings and if no, why not?
(5) Does the Department maintain a record of any adverse experience associated with the application of a pesticide, herbicide and biocide on school grounds and in buildings?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
6 November 2012
Responded by
Minister representing the Minister for Education
Response time
20 days
(1) No. School principals are responsible for overseeing the use of herbicides or pesticides by the school gardener or by a licensed pest control technician engaged by the school.
The Department's lawn-mowing contractors and pest control technicians, engaged through the Department of Finance - Building Management and Works, keep records of the chemicals they use in school grounds. The Department can request details of what chemicals have been used and in what circumstances. Please refer to [Tabled Paper No] for a Department of Education publication detailing the classification standard regarding pesticides, and guidelines for their safe application in schools.
(2) No, as the chemicals used are designated as Schedule 5 or less of the State Poisons legislation and are approved for use by the Department. The application of these chemicals is also performed outside of school hours wherever practical.
(3) The Department monitors the effectiveness of herbicides used for weed treatment through the lawn-mowing contractors and through school gardeners. The effectiveness of pesticides used to treat vermin such as termites and spiders is monitored through the Department of Finance - Building Management and Works.
(4) No. However, if a product is not effective, then approval for the use of an alternative may be granted, provided the alternative does not pose an unacceptable risk.
(5) Any adverse experience associated with the application of pesticides, herbicides or biocides in a school is investigated by the school principal in the first instance. An Incident Report is filed with the Department, and may be investigated by the Department's Principal Consultant Environmental Health or an Occupational Safety and Health Consultant, depending on the circumstances and severity of the adverse effects.
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The Department's lawn-mowing contractors and pest control technicians, engaged through the Department of Finance - Building Management and Works, keep records of the chemicals they use in school grounds. The Department can request details of what chemicals have been used and in what circumstances. Please refer to [Tabled Paper No] for a Department of Education publication detailing the classification standard regarding pesticides, and guidelines for their safe application in schools.
(2) No, as the chemicals used are designated as Schedule 5 or less of the State Poisons legislation and are approved for use by the Department. The application of these chemicals is also performed outside of school hours wherever practical.
(3) The Department monitors the effectiveness of herbicides used for weed treatment through the lawn-mowing contractors and through school gardeners. The effectiveness of pesticides used to treat vermin such as termites and spiders is monitored through the Department of Finance - Building Management and Works.
(4) No. However, if a product is not effective, then approval for the use of an alternative may be granted, provided the alternative does not pose an unacceptable risk.
(5) Any adverse experience associated with the application of pesticides, herbicides or biocides in a school is investigated by the school principal in the first instance. An Incident Report is filed with the Department, and may be investigated by the Department's Principal Consultant Environmental Health or an Occupational Safety and Health Consultant, depending on the circumstances and severity of the adverse effects.
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
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