Student badly disabled by classroom accident

The Governing Body of the Giles School of Boston, Lincolnshire, has been fined £16,500 with £2,500 costs having admitted breaching the requirements of health and safety law.

A 6th form female student sustained burns to her hands from plaster of Paris as she attempted to make a cast of them in January 2007. The severity of the burns, caused by the reaction temperature of the hydrated plaster, meant she now has only 2 fingers in total, all the rest and both thumbs required to be amputated.

No risk assessment had been carried out meaning the student was unequipped and uninformed of the dangers.

Additionally, the HSE only learned of the accident after it was contacted by the plastic surgeon working on the student's hands.

Article created by Editor. (info@safetynetscotland.co.uk)