SafeWork SA has begun criminal proceedings against Christian Brothers College over an athletics training incident in which a student was seriously injured. The case concerns an incident at St Albans Reserve in Clearview, Adelaide, on September 5, 2024, when a student was struck in the head by a hammer-throw ball, according to SafeWork SA and ABC News.
The regulator has lodged the proceedings against Edmund Rice Education Australia Colleges Ltd, which trades as Christian Brothers College. SafeWork SA said the school had been charged with a category two offence under South Australia’s Work Health and Safety Act. The matter is expected to be heard in the state’s Employment Court at a later date.
SafeWork SA alleges that students and workers involved in athletics training were exposed to health and safety risks while javelin and hammer-throw activities took place close to one another. The watchdog also alleges that a worker was exposed to the risk of being struck during the session.
According to SafeWork SA, the school failed to provide sufficient instruction or training to workers responsible for organising and supervising the activities. It further alleges that the school did not ensure its safety policies and procedures were followed, and did not carry out an adequate hazard identification and risk assessment.
The regulator also alleges the school failed to maintain a safe work environment by allowing hammer throwing to occur near students taking part in javelin. SafeWork SA said the school allegedly did not use a safety cage that met relevant industry safety standards.
SafeWork SA said the alleged failures exposed students and workers to a risk of death or serious injury from being struck by a hammer-throw ball. The supplied material does not include a response from Christian Brothers College or details of the student’s injuries beyond describing them as serious.