St Kevin’s College embroiled in legal action after horror accident
A devastating accident at St Kevin’s College in Toorak that left a student in hospital has sparked legal action, amid allegations the school failed to maintain the area where the student fell.
Victoria
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A devastating accident at a private school that left a student in hospital has sparked multiple inquiries and legal action.
St Kevin’s College in Toorak has been issued with a prohibition order by WorkSafe stating that the school has exposed students to risk by failing to maintain decking in the middle school.
The notice was issued to the school last November after a student fell more than six metres through a wooden decking on to the ground below.
Investigations and legal action are centring on issues such as the school’s maintenance of the decking, the location of a heavy concrete bench on the deck and the integrity of the deck’s original construction back in 2017.
An independent engineer is preparing a report and there are multiple legal avenues being explored by parties, including the school’s insurers.
The accident occurred at 11.20am on 8 November 2024 when the student was standing on a bench seat that forms part of the school’s decking boards. The seat broke, causing him to fall onto the concrete below which is used as a bike storage area.
The middle school student was rushed to hospital with multiple fractures to his wrist, leg and collarbone. Although he’s back at school a couple of days a week, he is understood to be still suffering from the impact of the fall, which was captured on CCTV cameras.
The deck, which is 15m wide and 40m long, has steel and timber supports with composite material decking boards.
The WorkSafe prohibition order notes that the school “has not ensured, so far as is reasonably practicable, that students of the school are not exposed to risks arising from a failure to maintain the decking structures in a condition that is safe and without risks to health”.
The area in question between the Smith Building and Galleria at the Heyington Campus is still cordoned off.
The school has been ordered to implement a routine inspection regime for school structures that includes decking areas and undertake in a timely manner any damage, wear and condition issues identified through the inspections.
The prohibition notice remains in place.
A follow-up inspection by a WorkSafe officer on 20 February 2025 noted that the school had not produced a range of relevant documents relating to the maintenance of the decking and the accident. These included details of students and staff present when the accident occurred, servicing and maintenance records for all school decking areas, details of any discussions about deck servicing and any reports or complaints made to the school about the condition of the decking.
However, it’s understood the school, which has offered extensive support and assistance to the student involved, is complying fully with the investigation.
Teachers who have students at the school, including those who were on the scene when the boy fell, are also being supported by the school.
A spokesman for St Kevin’s College said: “WorkSafe Victoria is continuing to undertake an investigation in relation to an incident on Friday 8 November 2024. Given it is an ongoing process, it is not appropriate to speculate or comment at this time”.
Originally published as St Kevin’s College embroiled in legal action after horror accident
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