Department of Education charged after Beechworth Secondary College student severs fingertips

WorkSafe has charged the Department of Education after a horrific accident at Beechworth Secondary College where a student lost multiple fingertips while using a guillotine.

WorkSafe has charged the Department of Education after an incident where a student severed his fingertips. Picture: Supplied

The Department of Education has been charged after a Beechworth Secondary College student’s fingertips were severed in a horror school incident.

The 15-year-old boy was using a guillotine to cut sheet metal when his hand was crushed in a shear point between the machine and table in February 2024.

The boy, who lost multiple fingertips during the jewellery design class, was flown to The Alfred hospital in a stable condition.

The student was flown to The Alfred hospital. Picture: Luis Enrique Ascui

WorkSafe charged the department with three offences under the Occupational Health and Safety Act for failing to ensure that persons, other than employees, were not exposed to health and safety risks.

“It is alleged the department failed to eliminate or reduce the risk of serious injury by failing to provide guarding that prevented access to the rear of the guillotine, failing to provide adequate supervision; and failing to implement a safe system of work for the guillotine which included competency tests, warning signage and restricted access,” a statement released on Friday read.

It is understood the teacher responsible for supervising the class no longer works for the department.

The incident occurred at Beechworth Secondary College. Picture: Supplied

A Department Of Education spokeswoman apologised for the incident.

“The safety and wellbeing of our students and staff is our highest priority and we acknowledge Worksafe’s charges in relation to this matter,” she said.

“This incident should not have occurred and we are deeply sorry.

“As this matter is subject to legal proceedings, it would be inappropriate for the department to comment further at this time.”

The matter will be heard at Wodonga Magistrates’ Court on January 20 next year.

Beechworth Secondary College is located in Victoria’s northeast.

Students at the school study a range of practical subjects, including woodworking and metalwork.

Originally published as Department of Education charged after Beechworth Secondary College student severs fingertips