Whiteboard installations may pose risk to school kids
THE family of a child who was crushed by an electronic interactive whiteboard at school say they fear other pupils may be in danger.
Elias Batchelor (pictured), 7, was injured when the digital whiteboard detached from a wall and fell on him at St Gabriel’s Catholic Primary School in Tamworth.
The incident – which took place in May 2023 – left Elias in a “tremendous” pain and has prompted calls for more stringent safety checks on equipment.
His family were informed by doctors that if the board had hit him on the head he could have been killed.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has found the initial installation of the whiteboard fell below industry standards and became detached with minimal force.
“It flattened him,” his father, Matthew Batchelor, told the Post. “They had to get two members of staff to pick the board up so they could get him out from underneath – he was seriously hurt.
“We took him down to Good Hope Hospital who suspected he had fractured his pelvis. Luckily there was no fracture, but one of the consultants said if it had hit him on the head it would have killed him.”
The whiteboard was installed by Capita Entrust who offer services to local-authority run schools. The HSE has written to the firm requiring it to ensure all future installations are checked and meet industry standards.
A spokesperson for St Gabriel’s Catholic Primary School said: “We have received the outcome of the (HSE) investigation into an accident in May 2023 where an AV screen came off the wall in the school, injuring a child. Their investigation has found fault with the installation.
“As a result, the HSE has informed the company who installed the screen of these findings. The HSE has informed the school of this outcome and has been clear that there is no fault on the part of the school.
“The governing board of St Gabriel’s Catholic Primary School also conducted its own investigation of the circumstances.
“Our thoughts remain with the child and his family and we hope that his recovery will be as speedy as possible.”