Colleges warned after acid explosion injury
Colleges warned after acid explosion injury
Lecturers' union UCU has urged colleges to learn urgent safety lessons after the prosecution of City of Bristol College. The legal action came after a UCU member was injured in an acid explosion. At a hearing last week at Bristol Magistrates Court, the college was fined £14,000 and required to pay £18,000 costs, after admitting it was guilty of failing to adequately protect, train and supervise its staff and that it had failed to store and manage safely a hazardous substance. The magistrate said that there had been a 'very serious breach of health and safety duties.' Gary Baird, a lecturer in welding, was preparing materials used in weld tests, when a litre jar of concentrated nitric acid became unstable and exploded. He suffered acid burns which required two separate skin grafts and a second operation to his right hand. It is likely his face will be permanently scarred. He has also suffered nightmares and flashbacks. The criminal prosecution was brought by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). During the course of its investigations, HSE served a prohibition notice and two improvement notices on the college, requiring it to review its systems relating to hazardous substances in the workplace. Roger Kline, head of employment rights at UCU, commented: 'Gary Baird was badly injured because of the sloppy management and lack of proper concern by his employers.' He added: 'If this can happen in one college it may happen in others putting staff and students at risk, unless colleges and universities thoroughly examine their procedures and safeguards and take action.' UCU is providing legal support in Mr Baird's compensation claim.
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