The Australian Education Union has uncovered an independent report proving TasTAFE management knew levels of carbon monoxide were dangerously high in the Campbell Street campus’ automotive workshops, months before a teacher and two students were hospitalised with carbon monoxide poisoning in November, requiring treatment in a hyperbaric chamber.

This is the second poisoning-induced collapse of the staff member in the workshop. The staff member also collapsed in august after smelling fumes, but TasTAFE neglected to report the incident to WorkSafe. Staff have been raising concerns about fumes in the building for over a year.

“TasTAFE have plainly neglected their duty of care under the law,” said AEU Tasmania President, David Genford. 

“This was the foreseeable and entirely preventable result of TasTAFE’s choice not to take workers’ or students’ safety seriously,” he said.

“TasTAFE knew better and still chose not to fix the air quality, knowing full-well this could endanger workers’ and students’ lives.”

The Air Quality Assessment Report, commissioned by TasTAFE, found issues including blocked air filters and poor airflow allowing dangerously high peaks in carbon monoxide (CO).

The report by Environmental Service and Design, a private consulting firm, states: “The general ground floor workshop (AG-01) has a low air exchange at 3.23 volumes per hour. This means that when the 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.” (p.2)

Documents provided under the WHS Act:

• Report by Environmental Service and Design
• Report by TCM Building Services on 75 Campbell Street Automotive Area Ventilation
• TCM Building Services Report – Details
• TasTAFE Automotive Building – Floorplan

TasTAFE sat on this report for months, ignored the danger and, consequently, failed to keep staff and students safe. 

“Right now, the building is still not a safe place to work or learn whenever engines are running due to sub-standard ventilation, as identified in the air quality report,” said Mr Genford. 

“TasTAFE’s air circulation system is not fit for purpose. When engines are running, carbon monoxide can build up to dangerous levels. There are serious concerns someone could die from poisoning if TasTAFE don’t fix the system before students return,” he said. 

“People need to work and learn in a building with air that is clean, safe and breathable at all times. Campbell Street is not a safe place for students or staff until TasTAFE fix the systemic problems with air supply,” he said.

Compounding the reported problem of sub-standard “air exchange,” which allows a build-up of carbon monoxide within the workshop, staff also say carbon monoxide is being drawn back into the building because of poor ventilation arrangements.

TasTAFE’s automotive courses are run out of the lower levels of the Campbell Street campus, where running engines emit carbon monoxide fumes which are vented outside the building. But the building’s air intake is located near that vent and workers believe this is how toxic air is recirculated back into the building, compounding existing problems.

Staff on other levels of the building have also reported to TasTAFE that they have smelt fumes, felt unwell and suffered headaches.

A roller door that is sometimes opened to try and combat the low air exchange problem in the automotive workshop is also ineffective, because it allows fumes to be blown back into the building.

AEU TAFE Division President and teacher, Tristan Sabol said: “There’s a short reprieve over the holiday break because automotive classes have just finished for the year, so we’re not running engines right now.” 

“If the air circulation system isn’t fixed before classes come back next year, then we’ll all still be in danger of carbon monoxide poisoning,” Mr Sabol said.

“I’ve personally been raising concerns about the air quality and fumes in the building for over a year,” said Mr Sabol who is also the newly-elected Health and Safety Representative for the Campbell Street campus. 

Mr Genford said the way TasTAFE managed the November incident was appalling.

“It seems that TasTAFE’s first thought was damage control – while the teacher was still unconscious they rushed a ‘Health & Safety Specialist’ to his hospital room, who proceeded to falsely claim to the victim’s family that incident was his fault, not TasTAFE’s,” said Mr Genford.

“This is really shameful from TasTAFE and it shows that they’re more worried about blame-shifting than the fact that they could have killed someone,” he said.

TasTAFE recognised carbon monoxide as a “catastrophic risk” in their own Hazard and Risk Register in June 2023.