Pupil burned by tar dripping through roof

Prosecutions and Claims |
07.04.2008

A council has admitted failing to properly supervise the work of contractors after a child was burned by molten tar dripping through a hole in a school roof.

In June 2007, workers at St Mark's Primary in Barrhead, Renfrewshire, were warned that they had cut too deeply through old felt in the school's roof but they continued sawing, causing debris and then tar to fall into the corridor below.

Paisley Sheriff Court heard that three days after the warning, droplets of bitumen landed on a girl's hand as she left a classroom with her teacher.

She was taken to hospital to have the tar removed and suffered a minor burn.

East Renfrewshire Council admitted there was a lack of supervision and instruction during the work. The court was told the council deeply regretted what had happened and had carried out a review to avoid a repeat.

Fining the authority £2000, Sheriff Peter Watson commented: "I do not understand how work of this nature could be carried out without some detailed plan or risk assessment."