Comcare charges government department following serious injury to child

An Australian Government department is facing charges for violating federal work health and safety regulations following a child's serious injuries at a Canberra science and technology centre two years ago.

After a Comcare investigation, the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions has brought one charge to the ACT Magistrates Court accusing the Department of not meeting its obligations under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (WHS Act).

In July 2022, a child aged nine who was visiting the centre touched a plasma globe in a gallery, resulting in their hands igniting and sustaining burns to both their hands and wrists.

The department faces a Category 2 criminal offence under the WHS Act, with a possible fine of up to $1.5 million.

The case will be mentioned in the ACT Magistrates Court next month.

Originally published here.