School pupil loses fingers in incident with hazardous substance

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, Perry Leeks, Operations Director at First Response, 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.”

First Response Training offers a 2-hour COSHH Awareness training course which covers legislative requirements, risk assessment awareness and safe handling principles. The course can also be tailored to deal specifically with the substances your organisation comes into contact with. Call First Response today on freephone 0800 310 2300 or e-mail info@firstresponsetraining.com.