Parent reports TAFE to WorkSafe

Gordon Institute of TAFE has been placed on a two-year good behaviour bond after pleading guilty to workplace health and safety charges.

WorkSafe last week prosecuted the Geelong-based TAFE for failing to report a serious injury to a student and not ensuring the site where it happened was not disturbed until WorkSafe arrived.

WorkSafe only heard about the incident when contacted by the student's mother more than two weeks after the incident.

The court heard the student was helping another when his hand was hit by the blade of a power saw.

He had to undergo microsurgery after the incident in June 2006.

The student was doing a Certificate II in Building and Construction as part of Vocational Education and Training in schools (VET) program.

WorkSafe's executive director John Merritt said failing to report a safety incident was a serious matter.

"It can mean the injured person does not get the support they need. It can also mean a proper investigation is not carried out, potentially putting others at risk," he said.

Failing to report a serious incident greatly increases the likelihood of prosecution.

Apart from the bond, Gordon Institute of TAFE will report on the incident in its annual report, train staff and students in health and safety and introduce a register of students trained to use particular power tools.