The ACT government was alerted about air and building quality issues at Dickson College months before the regulator deemed part of the school unsafe for staff and students, the ACT education union says.
A spokesperson for WorkSafe ACT on Monday confirmed it had "issued a prohibition notice to Dickson College. It is displayed at a prominent position at the college as required by legislation".
The spokesperson did not comment on the details of the notice, however, a photo posted to social media shows it was issued after inspectors found black mould, water damage and possum faeces and urine in part of the school.
The notice issued on Friday said staff and students would be prohibited from entering the SOSE/Humanities Block D or the Anthill Theatre "until an occupational hygienist has completed a report and certified that these areas are safe for occupancy".
It was issued after two WorkSafe officers attended the site last Wednesday, in response to complaints "regarding work environment ventilation, temperature, hygiene and worker consultation".
They found what was believed to be possum faeces and urine on the floor and light fittings of the theatre, black mould on suspended ceiling tiles in the humanities corridor and in the Anthill Theatre fire hose reel cabinet, as well as extensive water damage on suspended ceiling tiles throughout the school.
The inspectors noted the "immediate and imminent hazard of respirable airborne contaminants" in the notice.
Australian Education Union ACT secretary Patrick Judge said the government had been aware of some of the issues identified in the notice for about 12 months.
The Education directorate's Infrastructure and Capital Works Team has attended the school "a number of times" over the last 12 months to investigate some of the issues around air quality and concerns about the building quality, he said.
Mr Judge also said the health and safety representative for staff at the school had previously requested an occupational hygienist visit the school to investigate air quality concerns.
"We don't know why this situation wasn't identified and addressed, but we do take this extremely seriously," he said.
"When there are these sorts of work safety issues facing our members, they need to be dealt with and rectified."
It is the second prohibition notice issued to a school this year, after some students were told to stay home from Calwell High School in April due to serious risks to health and safety caused by staffing shortages.
"There should never be prohibition notices issued to schools," Mr Judge said.
"There should be sufficient work health and safety management that prohibition notices are not necessary, and the Education directorate at all of its schools is compliant with the law."
A spokesperson for the Education directorate said, after receiving the notice on Friday, an environmental assessor "was immediately engaged to sample and assess the two impacted areas - level 1 of the Humanities Block D and Anthill Theatre".
Cleaning began at the weekend and will continue outside of school hours.
"Our priority is always the health and safety of our students, staff and community and appropriate measures have been put in place across the school to manage this temporary disruption," the spokesperson said.
"No students or staff will be allowed to enter these identified areas until advised that they are safe."
We've made it a whole lot easier for you to have your say. Our new comment platform requires only one log-in to access articles and to join the discussion on The Canberra Times website. Find out how to register so you can enjoy civil, friendly and engaging discussions. See our moderation policy here.
