School fined after pupil loses six fingers in incident with hazardous substance
14:12 - 12/11/2009
School fined after pupil loses six fi...
The governing body of a foundational school in Lincolnshire was fined £16,500 for breaches of health and safety law after an incident in which a sixth form student severely damaged her hands after attempting to make a plaster of Paris cast during an A-Level Art and Design class.
Unaware of the chemical reaction, producing excessive heat, which occurs when plaster of Paris is mixed with water, the 16-year-old pupil placed her hands directly into the substance. It quickly began to set and she had to be rushed to Boston Hospital before being transferred to the Burns Unit at Nottingham City Hospital. Her hands were so severely burned that doctors were forced to amputate six of her fingers and both thumbs and she required a lengthy stay in hospital as well as further treatment.
The HSE feels that the incident, which occurred on 31st January 2007, demonstrates the importance of carrying out proper risk assessments at educational establishments. Students had not been informed of the potential dangers of plaster of Paris and had not been instructed to wear any kind of protective clothing when handling the substance. A risk assessment for the handling of hazardous substances is a legal requirement but had not been carried out. Furthermore, the school’s governing body failed to report the incident.
On 12th October this year the Governing Body of the Giles School of Church End, Old Leake, Boston, pleaded guilty at Boston Magistrate’s Court to breaching both Section 3 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and Regulation 3 (1) (c) of the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995.
Following the prosecution, HSE Inspector Jo Anderson said: “It is simply not acceptable that pupils in a classroom setting are not informed and prepared for the risks involved in handling hazardous substances. Governing bodies of foundation schools must realise the importance of the implementation of health and safety measures to prevent further incidents which can have such a drastic effect on students’ lives.”
Agreeing with the HSE, John Smith, Senior Health & Safety Consultant at Hodgins Smith Consulting says: “It is essential that anyone who may come into contact with hazardous substances is made fully aware of the risks involved and the methods they must use to protect themselves. There are many substances, such as plaster of Paris, that are not widely known to be harmful and Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH). Awareness training can make a very important difference in this kind of situation.”
Hodgins Smith Consulting offers a range COSHH Awareness training specific to your organisations needs. Please call us today on 01292 678484 or e-mail info@hodginssmithcdm.co.uk
Unaware of the chemical reaction, producing excessive heat, which occurs when plaster of Paris is mixed with water, the 16-year-old pupil placed her hands directly into the substance. It quickly began to set and she had to be rushed to Boston Hospital before being transferred to the Burns Unit at Nottingham City Hospital. Her hands were so severely burned that doctors were forced to amputate six of her fingers and both thumbs and she required a lengthy stay in hospital as well as further treatment.
The HSE feels that the incident, which occurred on 31st January 2007, demonstrates the importance of carrying out proper risk assessments at educational establishments. Students had not been informed of the potential dangers of plaster of Paris and had not been instructed to wear any kind of protective clothing when handling the substance. A risk assessment for the handling of hazardous substances is a legal requirement but had not been carried out. Furthermore, the school’s governing body failed to report the incident.
On 12th October this year the Governing Body of the Giles School of Church End, Old Leake, Boston, pleaded guilty at Boston Magistrate’s Court to breaching both Section 3 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and Regulation 3 (1) (c) of the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995.
Following the prosecution, HSE Inspector Jo Anderson said: “It is simply not acceptable that pupils in a classroom setting are not informed and prepared for the risks involved in handling hazardous substances. Governing bodies of foundation schools must realise the importance of the implementation of health and safety measures to prevent further incidents which can have such a drastic effect on students’ lives.”
Agreeing with the HSE, John Smith, Senior Health & Safety Consultant at Hodgins Smith Consulting says: “It is essential that anyone who may come into contact with hazardous substances is made fully aware of the risks involved and the methods they must use to protect themselves. There are many substances, such as plaster of Paris, that are not widely known to be harmful and Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH). Awareness training can make a very important difference in this kind of situation.”
Hodgins Smith Consulting offers a range COSHH Awareness training specific to your organisations needs. Please call us today on 01292 678484 or e-mail info@hodginssmithcdm.co.uk
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