Victoria
Education department fined after student loses fingers in class
The Victorian Department of Education has been fined $150,000 after a student suffered severe finger injuries during a school jewellery class.
The Victorian Department of Education has been fined $150,000 in court following a serious incident in which a student's fingers were severed during a classroom activity.
According to a wire report, the department pleaded guilty to charges of breaching the state's Occupational Health and Safety Act. The prosecution was launched following an investigation into the severe accident, which occurred during a jewellery making class.
Several details surrounding the incident remain undisclosed, including the location of the school, the name and age of the injured student, and the date when the accident occurred. It is also not yet confirmed what specific tools or machinery were being used by the student at the time, or what precise failures in supervision or equipment maintenance led to the workplace safety breach.
In Victoria, the Department of Education holds a non-delegable duty of care to ensure that school environments are safe for students and staff. This responsibility is governed by strict workplace health and safety laws. Under these regulations, educational authorities must ensure that all machinery is properly guarded, students receive adequate safety instructions, and teachers are trained to supervise potentially hazardous activities.
Practical classrooms, such as those used for woodwork, metalwork and jewellery making, are subject to high levels of scrutiny due to the inherent risks of the equipment used. The $150,000 fine serves as a significant reminder of the legal consequences when public institutions fail to meet these stringent safety requirements.
Neither the Department of Education nor safety regulators have released further comments on the court's decision or the condition of the student.
Watch for whether the department introduces new safety guidelines or equipment audits across Victorian school workshops following the court's ruling.
This report draws on original reporting by Wire report.
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