The 15-year-old student was using a guillotine to cut sheet metal when his hand was crushed in a shear point between the machine and its table, severing multiple fingertips.
The Department of Education faces three charges under section 23(1) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act for failing to ensure, so far as was reasonably practicable, 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.
The matter is listed for a mention hearing in the Wodonga Magistrates' Court on 20 January 2026.
