Venting about ventilation...

[Marama T]

We had a company come in and give us a quote to fix the fume cupboard (yes, there's a lot of stuff we can't do right now) and the bloke said the chem store ventilation had given up too. The quote came in and then suddenly I find myself with the finance manager in my prep room. She is nearly hyperventilating with some strong emotion (distress at the size of the quote I guess) and during the ensuing conversation said "I don't think you need ventilation in the chem store".
!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Fortunately, the day before this event I discovered that an auditor had been through another school nearby, and had banned entry to the chem store because of a lack of ventilation. I managed to cough up this gem of information without sounding completely outraged (this is astonishing for anyone who knows me). The finance manager screwed up her face in pain and then agreed to fix both the chem store and the fume cupboard. I know that there are rules around chem store ventilation but I've no idea what they actually are or where to find them so it was most serendipitous that I had a useful comeback right then and there, because I could have ended up with no ventilation. Crikey, that was close!

[bigmack]

Nicely played Marama ........not that you should have needed to though

[LabbieSeth]

Very smart Marama!

Our chem. store's ventilation stopped working earlier this year and no one believed me until they went into the chem. store themselves (after 2 weeks of trying to convince them). We had someone from dyna-flow come out and assess the situation and both of their suggestions on how to fix the issue got gunned down as it was "too expensive for what it is", or "will never get finalised by ASSET" so I just gave up and said I wont be working in there until the issue is solved which I assumed would be never....
Buuuut I might try and use a similar trick and see if they gets the powers that be to fix it

[Labbie]

If you are a DoE school NSW, they MUST fix it. Or you can NOT do the chemical register, which must be done for adit. CSIS states that.

[Pm706Narrogin]

"I don't think you need ventilation in the chem store".

If you ever needed more proof that those at the top don't know what the job entails...

[Labbie]

Yes you do, due to it being a closed walk in store area. You would leave a window open, so should have a elec fan going 24/7 plus vent in the door, so a through air can go through and out. Or a build up for varps would happen.

[LabbieSeth]

If you are a DoE school NSW, they MUST fix it. Or you can NOT do the chemical register, which must be done for adit. CSIS states that.

That was my main point to them labbie. I said I would not being going in there to do a chemical register or QC checks on the chemicals/containers while the ventilation doesn't work. I also refuse to go in there looking for chemicals that I know I can't recall where they are. Officially, there hasn't been a flat out 'no' to fixing it, just that the options that were given are not suitable. There is more to the story and all as to why the options given to fix it aren't being done but nonetheless I am not exposing myself to potentially harmful fumes and don't have much faith in it being resolved anytime soon.

[mtg]

Gov schools in Vic must have the fume hoods checked yearly. Costs a lot. The rooms have extraction fans, as far as I know that is compulsory including the chem storage. You shouldn't have windows open in your chem store room. The room must be secure. But non-gov schools seem to have different requirements. I am about to get a portable science room and I'll be interested to see the set up.

[Pm706Narrogin]

Officially, there hasn't been a flat out 'no' to fixing it, just that the options that were given are not suitable. There is more to the story and all as to why the options given to fix it aren't being done but nonetheless I am not exposing myself to potentially harmful fumes and don't have much faith in it being resolved anytime soon.

I wonder if your head of department could have a word.

Not being able to do any chemistry pracs because you cannot safely access the chem store is not a workable solution if the school wants to deliver a quality Science education

[LabbieSeth]

Unfortunately my Head of Department has been out since the start of term 4 last year. He is aware of the situation and agrees that I shouldn't be working in there until it is fixed but he can't really go to bat for me when he isn't here. I can't even discuss the situation with him as I've been told not to contact him as he is on extended leave

[Labbie]

CAN WHS help in any way????

[Pm706Narrogin]

Oh wow. Does the school not appoint someone to act in the role while they're on leave?

[LabbieSeth]

I hadn't thought about the WHS committee. I might see if I can join in on one of their meetings and see where it goes from there.

We have a 2IC who has been acting as the Head teacher however he only works 3 days a week and has a crazy workload with all the extra responsibility. When he is not in, we have no Head of Department.

[Marama T]

Finally got the fume cupboard and chem store ventilation fixed after weeks of either waiting for parts or the weather being too wet for people to work on the roof. Hooray. And I've realised the chem store ventilation hasn't worked for the whole nine years I've been here, unless it was completely silent. AND the chem store smells totally different - the dusty, musty smell is gone. Then of course I got stuck in the school lift with two trolleys of equipment and I was wondering about the ventilation in there...thank heavens it happened before everyone departed for the sports carnival because the lift phone wasn't working AAARGH! It was funny but only after I got out.

[Labbie]

Always keep your mobile phone in your lab coat pocket, you just never know. I knew a labbie that slipped on the floor, broke her leg years ago now. Only the cleaner heard her calls. If you work alone, which most of us do. A simple phone in your pocket can help.

[bigmack]

That's a good outcome Marama .That is disgraceful that it potentially has never worked in all that time .

[cactus155]

I complained about the fume cupboard a number of times, it sounded like something had been dropped from where it exits on the roof, apparently twice the contractors came and didn't find anything, so I recorded the sound that the fume cupboard was making and that got them out again. This time a poor Eastern Rosella had flown in and needless to say the pictures weren't very nice that the contractor showed me. Hopefully they were going to put some wire mesh over it to prevent it happening again

[Marama T]

Poor birdie. Frustrating that you had to get them out three times.