❓ A WA parliamentary question addresses a mould outbreak at South Hedland and Pundulmurra TAFE campuses, raising concerns about staff and student health, communication protocols, and resource allocation for testing and remediation. The response provides data on reported symptoms, clarifies communication protocols, and denies budget constraints on testing.
AnsweredQoN 6457Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the mould outbreak in buildings at South Hedland and Pundulmurra TAFE campuses and ask:
(a) how many staff members have reported problems of the following type since the outbreak first occurred in March: headaches, sore eyes, breathing problems and or rashes;
(b) how many children at the child-care centre have reported similar symptoms;
(c) how many TAFE students have reported similar symptoms;
(d) have staff members been advised that any symptoms they are suffering could just as easily have resulted from exposure at home or at the supermarket;
(e) are staff being warned not to take any further complaints to the media;
(f) are budget constraints preventing testing from being carried out in all areas at the TAFE campuses;
(g) are staff compelled to work in areas which still show visible signs of mould; and
(h) how many staff members have resigned from the campuses as a result of this issue?
(a) how many staff members have reported problems of the following type since the outbreak first occurred in March: headaches, sore eyes, breathing problems and or rashes;
(b) how many children at the child-care centre have reported similar symptoms;
(c) how many TAFE students have reported similar symptoms;
(d) have staff members been advised that any symptoms they are suffering could just as easily have resulted from exposure at home or at the supermarket;
(e) are staff being warned not to take any further complaints to the media;
(f) are budget constraints preventing testing from being carried out in all areas at the TAFE campuses;
(g) are staff compelled to work in areas which still show visible signs of mould; and
(h) how many staff members have resigned from the campuses as a result of this issue?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
22 November 2011
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary representing the Minister for Training and Workforce Development
Response time
21 days
(a) Pilbara Institute has received reports from 13 staff members in relation to the described symptoms since March 2011.
(b) Pilbara Institute has not received any reports of symptoms from the Child Care Centre in relation to mould.
(c) Pilbara Institute has not received any official reports from students of symptoms. However, a class of nursing students has verbally advised of symptoms that they believe may be related to mould.
(d) Staff have been advised that mould is an issue across the Pilbara as evidenced from a report in the Northwest Telegraph on 20 July 2011 titled 'Toxic mould a growing issue'. It is an issue that is not isolated to Pilbara Institute.
(e) Staff have been advised to follow the communication protocols as outlined in the Pilbara Institute Code of Conduct.
(f) No, budget constraints have not prevented testing being carried out in all areas of campuses. Further testing on areas not previously remediated took place on the weekend of 12 and 13 November 2011.
(g) At all times Pilbara Institute is following advice from the Health Department, WorkSafe and Riskcover. The Institute is very mindful of staff health issues and staff are moved and action taken when evidence of unacceptable levels of mould are found.
(h) One
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(b) Pilbara Institute has not received any reports of symptoms from the Child Care Centre in relation to mould.
(c) Pilbara Institute has not received any official reports from students of symptoms. However, a class of nursing students has verbally advised of symptoms that they believe may be related to mould.
(d) Staff have been advised that mould is an issue across the Pilbara as evidenced from a report in the Northwest Telegraph on 20 July 2011 titled 'Toxic mould a growing issue'. It is an issue that is not isolated to Pilbara Institute.
(e) Staff have been advised to follow the communication protocols as outlined in the Pilbara Institute Code of Conduct.
(f) No, budget constraints have not prevented testing being carried out in all areas of campuses. Further testing on areas not previously remediated took place on the weekend of 12 and 13 November 2011.
(g) At all times Pilbara Institute is following advice from the Health Department, WorkSafe and Riskcover. The Institute is very mindful of staff health issues and staff are moved and action taken when evidence of unacceptable levels of mould are found.
(h) One
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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