Department of Education fined $70,000 after incident with student and metal grinder

A Queensland high school has been fined more than $70,000 after a horrific incident involving a student and a metal grinder which left them with life-changing injuries.

A student’s thumb was crushed in a metal grinder during class.

A Queensland high school has been fined more than $70,000 after a horrific incident involving a student and a metal grinder which left them with life-changing injuries.

The 16-year-old student’s thumb was pulled into a grinding machine and crushed, resulting in multiple surgeries, skin grafts and a metal rod implant.

Multiple audits raised concerns about the large machine not being properly bolted down, but nothing was done.

The Department of Education – the overarching body of the school – was charged with failing to comply with its primary health and safety duties and last month fined $70,000.

The incident occurred in 2019, at a high school in south east Queensland while the student was in an industry, technology and design class.

During sentencing at Brisbane Magistrates Court, the court was told the grinder was located on a benchtop in the classroom and was being used by students for a metal hacksaw project.

A female student was using the linishing attachment when the whole grinder began to rotate and move towards her and the edge of the bench.

The young girl called out for help, and the boy went over and tried to push the grinder back on the bench.

His thumb made contact with the grinding wheel and was pulled into the wheel, causing significant injuries.

He was taken to Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital where he underwent two surgeries, skin grafts, and the fusion of a metal rod which does not allow his thumb to bend.

Magistrate Belinda Merrin said the incident caused “very significant pain and discomfort to the student and some trauma to that student and potentially other students”.

In 2016, the school acquired an Abbott and Ashby brand industrial bench grinder. The grinder had a multi-tool belt and disc grinding attachment.

Between 2016 and 2019, the grinder was inspected during three separate audits which noted that it was not bolted down properly.

During sentencing, Ms Merrin said it was a serious breach with significant consequences, and a “simple” and inexpensive fix.

Ms Merrin accepted the department was remorseful and had since bolted down the machine.

The department entered an early guilty plea and was found to have taken appropriate measures to ensure any future risks were managed.

Ms Merrin issued a $70,000 fine, with no conviction recorded.

Originally published as Department of Education fined $70,000 after incident with student and metal grinder