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Posted By safetyamateur
Shocking.
Just out of interest, how could this have been prevented? Do you allow it to settle or just protect?
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Posted By D. Hilton
As per the article, it could have been prevented by the use of clay in order to make a mold prior to mixing and pouring the plaster into the mold.
As far as I am aware, the pupil was given this instruction but there was an apparent disconnect between the instruction given and the actions carried out.
Obviously, supervision was questionable there after
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Posted By Alan Hoskins
I read about this incident when it happened, but did not appreciate the extent of the injuries.
Apparently there is a special type of plaster that could have been used, but plaster of paris it is not.
I feel very sorry for the girl, but am also very impressed with her ambition as expressed in the article and wish her all the best in her chosen career.
Alan
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Posted By MT
The Jeremy Vine article was actually quite interesting as the HSE prosecuting Inspector was on the show, fielding questions such as "why hasn't plaster of paris been banned?". Might be worth a listen on the iPlayer.
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Posted By safetyamateur
So supervision would have been the answer if they couldn't substitute with the other material, right.
Interested in what the fine aims to get them to do in future.
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Posted By Raymond Rapp
I am surprised that no one has mentioned a COSHH assessment, which would have identified plaster of paris as a harmful/dangerous substance. I had no idea of the potential consequences of the substance. However, I Googled a MSDS and found the following advice: 'DO NOT attempt to make a cast enclosing any part of the
body using this material' and 'Exposure to water and acids must be supervised because the reactions are vigorous and produce large amounts of heat'.
Not exactly rocket science is it!
Ray
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Posted By Robert K Lewis
I seem to think the root of this issue was a non appreciation of the fact that POP generates heat as it sets thus causing a temperature rise and the greater the volume the greater the temperature reached. In this case I heard a temperature of 60 celsius was achieved.
This is not really about supervision but rather familiarity breeds contempt - so to speak.
Bob
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Posted By CFT
To D. Hilton. From what I have read and heard this is the normal methodology. Sadly on this occasion it 'appears' that the young lady decided to to otherwise.
Bob. Agree.
CFT
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Posted By D. Hilton
Bob
I would not consider this as someone being familiar with a substance, I would see it as some one having ignorance of the exotherm.
From the facts provided I would put it down to a breakdown in communication and supervision.
either way it was an appalling injury that should have been prevented.
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Posted By Ken Taylor
This could also be a good example of why science departments could usefully share information with other departments where applicable. A lot of the guidance from the Schools Science Service can be quite useful in other school activities.
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Posted By Peter F.
A very sad case, I have warned my own children regarding the use of POP.
This really highlights the need not just for supervision but also for training, bringing to the forefront COSSH regulations and what to look for on data sheets for information H&S training should be compulsory for all work areas with regular refreshers, this could prevent such incidents.
The reality is that we will not often know just how effective H&S is as at times it is difficult to demonstrate that without it there would have been a foreseeable risk to health.
We only hear how daft we are as a profession or what we missed and how the lack of H&S provision was to blame.
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Posted By Bob Howden
Thanks for the 'heads - up' on this. Will be circulating the information to colleagues.
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Posted By Chas
For those of you involved with schools and have access to CLEAPSS information there is a guidance paper on this very subject.
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Posted By Barrie (Badger) Etter
More of an aside than anything else, I now know why they apply multiple layers of cotton wool and bandages before applying POP. Had a broken ankle a few years back and even with the many layers it was still quite hot. The nurses applying the POP always made a quick turn for the sink to wash off the surplus.
Badger
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Posted By Kenneth Patrick
How well known was this hazard. The CLEAPPS guidance PS72 03/09 appears to have been issued after the incident. My favourite web MSDS source does not mention it. Also Comenius- EU cooperation on school education Hands on Science has a Chemical Safety Data for POP which says;" regarded as safe material, avoid breathing large amounts of dust, mixed with water it turns irreversibly into solid lump form"
Ken
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Posted By MT
The Inspector I heard on the radio said that apparently there had been a similar incident in a Scottish school previous to this accident, but it had not been reported by the school, and only came to the HSE's attention after this tragedy had happened.
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Posted By Chas
Kenneth
To my knowledge the CLEAPSS document has been around for sometime and was updated in 2009. I am not sure when it was first published though.
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Posted By Tracey Kelly The HSE have posted their press release at http://www.hse.gov.uk/PRESS/2009/coiem7809.htmThey cite the lack of risk assessment, as well as the faiure to report the accident. Another issue is that when dealing with young workers / students in general you need to consider that they may not be paying attention to the instructions you give, or to what they are doing. Tracey
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Posted By D. Hilton
Tracey
Could be said of a lot of older more mature individuals also :)
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