Policy
The purpose of this policy is to:
- ensure schools do not inadvertently bring asbestos and other contaminants onsite
- advise schools of the risk of contamination when importing soil, mulch and loose fill (including bark or woodchip) on school sites
- provide guidance on how to comply with department requirements when acquiring these materials.
Summary
- Schools requiring soil or mulch for minor works such as general landscaping and gardening projects, or loose fill (including bark or woodchip) for playgrounds are permitted to acquire up to 10 cubic metres of clean soil, mulch, or loose fill (total) from a nursery or specialised provider.
- Schools seeking to obtain more than 10 cubic metres (total) of soil, mulch or loose fill, must contact the Victorian School Building Authority (VSBA) and seek approval from the Site Infrastructure Unit by contacting vsba.property@education.vic.gov.au prior to accepting any imported materials.
- The VSBA will not approve use of more than 10 cubic metres of soil, mulch, or loose fill if the supplier is unable to provide a valid soil hygiene report for review that confirms the material is free from asbestos.
- Schools cannot accept material that has been derived from the construction and demolition sector such as timber waste from buildings.
- Schools must not permit any individual or organisation to dump fill of any type on a school site.
Details
The importation of materials such as soil, mulch and loose fill on school sites carry significant contamination risks for schools.
The department is aware of several situations where contaminated materials can be brought onto school sites. These include situations where schools are undertaking landscaping works which may require importation of soil onto their sites (for example, to develop ovals or create retaining walls). In other circumstances, developers and commercial companies have approached schools to supply fill from other sites, such as new housing estate developments.
Schools and school councils must follow this policy when acquiring soil, mulch or loose fill, and when approached with offers of free fill from third parties.
Acquiring imported materials up to 10 cubic metres
Schools requiring soil, mulch or loose fill for minor works such as general landscaping and gardening projects or maintaining playground areas are permitted to acquire up to 10 cubic metres of clean soil, mulch or loose fill from a nursery or specialised provider. School must request a product data safety sheet from the supplier and upload to the sheet to the work order in AIMS.
Acquiring more than 10 cubic metres
If works require more than 10 cubic metres of soil, mulch or loose fill, schools must seek advice from the VSBA’s Site Infrastructure Unit prior to accepting any imported materials.
Depending on the advice of the Site Infrastructure Unit, schools will be required to either:
- obtain a soil hygiene report from the supplier
- engage an occupational hygienist to test the soil, mulch or loose fill and provide a soil hygiene report for the materials.
Schools must provide the soil hygiene report to the VSBA’s Site Infrastructure Unit before the material is deposited on a school site.
The VSBA Site Infrastructure Unit will review the soil hygiene report and provide approval for the delivery of the materials to site.
If approval is granted, schools must upload the soil hygiene report to the work order in AIMS.
Third parties offering free soil, mulch or loose fill
Due to health and safety risks associated with contaminated soil, mulch or loose fill, schools are not authorised to enter into agreements to accept free soil, mulch or loose fill on school sites.
Schools interested in accepting free soil, mulch or loose fill on school sites must contact the VSBA’s Site Infrastructure Unit who will provide guidance.
For the VSBA to provide approval for schools to accept free soil, mulch or loose fill on a school site, the VSBA’s requirements for the acceptance of third-party soil, mulch or loose fill on school sites must be met by the school and the company providing the soil, mulch or loose fill.
A contract prepared by the company will not be accepted. The company must provide a soil hygiene report on the proposed soil, mulch or loose fill, before it is allowed to be deposited on a school site.
Soil, mulch or loose fill that has been excavated from residential or industrial estates cannot be brought onto school sites as this soil has a higher risk of containing contaminants such as asbestos.
Schools must not permit any individual or organisation to dump soil, mulch or loose fill of any type on a school site.
Asbestos management
School must manage asbestos in accordance with the requirements of the Asbestos Management policy.
The principal or their delegate and/or the asbestos coordinator must call the department’s 24-hour Asbestos Make Safe hotline on 1300 133 468 to report any occurrences where disturbed, damaged, degraded or suspected asbestos containing materials have been identified.
Definitions
Soil hygiene report
A soil hygiene report is a document completed by an occupational or environmental hygienist that provides a full breakdown of the material composition, provenance, any relevant certifications, and transport documents.
There is no industry standard on the term for a soil hygiene report. A soil hygiene report may also be known in the industry as a contaminated soil test report or an environmental soil report. Schools are advised to ensure the scope of the test includes testing for the presence of asbestos.
A soil hygiene report is different to a geotechnical report and a soil classification report which are typically obtained for major projects or major new site works.
Product safety data sheet
A product safety data sheet is an information sheet available on request from nursery and garden suppliers. This document typically provides information on the chemical composition of the product, potential health effects and instructions on how to use it and store it safely.
Schools may refer to the WorkSafe website for more information on safety data .
Related policies
Relevant legislation
Reviewed 04 March 2024