School ordered to pay £16k for health and safety breaches
January 12th 17:27 Health and Safety
The importance of effective facilities management and conducting thorough risk assessments has been highlighted after a school was fined £16,500 for breaching health and safety rules.
Giles School of Church End in Lincolnshire was also ordered to pay £2,500 in court costs following an accident which left a pupil with just two fingers.
The 6th form A-Level Art and Design student lost two fingers and a thumb after attempting to make a cast of her hand using plaster of Paris.
Health and Safety Executive inspector Jo Anderson, said: "Today we have heard the dreadful consequence of not carrying out proper risk assessments in the classroom.
"It is simply not acceptable that pupils in a classroom setting are not informed and prepared for the risks involved in handling hazardous substances."
The incident occurred when a chemical reaction caused between plaster of Paris and water exposed the pupils hand to extreme heat and caused her fingers to become stuck.
An ambulance was called after a teacher and fellow pupils failed to remove her hand from the substance.
