If your child has been injured in a science lab accident due to the negligence of the school, you could be eligible to claim compensation on their behalf.
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School Science Lab Accident Claims
Science laboratories can be hazardous environments, particularly when schools fail to follow proper safety standards. If your child was injured while handling chemicals or specialist equipment without adequate supervision or protective equipment, you may be able to make a claim against the school.
A science lab accident claim at school may include compensation for pain and suffering, medical costs, ongoing care needs and any other related losses and expenses. A specialist school accident solicitor can assess your case and advise you on your options during a free, no-obligation consultation.
Contact us today for a free case assessment by calling 0800 470 0472 or entering your details into our contact form to request a call back.
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Can I claim compensation for a science lab accident at school?
Yes, you could make a school accident claim if your child was injured during a science lab class due to negligence. Schools are legally required to take reasonable steps to keep pupils safe on school premises.
To be entitled to compensation, you must usually show that:
- The school owed your child a legal duty of care.
- That duty was breached (for example, a lack of safety equipment).
- The breach of duty caused the science lab accident.
- Your child suffered an injury as a direct result.
To make a compensation claim on behalf of your child, you must usually apply to the court to be appointed as their litigation friend. A specialist personal injury solicitor can help you with the paperwork and guide you through each step of the claims process.
What duty of care do schools have to ensure science lab safety?
Schools have a legal duty of care to take reasonable steps to ensure pupils are safe during all school activities, including science lessons. This means complying with key safety legislation and guidance, such as:
- The CLEAPSS guidance for science lab safety in schools.
- The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002.
- The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.
These guidelines and regulations may require schools to:
- Carry out proper risk assessments before experiments.
- Provide appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), such as gloves and goggles.
- Ensure equipment and experiments are suitable for the pupils’ age.
- Provide adequate supervision of hazardous activities.
- Ensure the school staff have the necessary training and competence to lead experiments.
- Provide adequate ventilation in science labs to ensure safe teaching.
- Ensure that dangerous chemicals are properly stored and used only under appropriate supervision.
A failure to meet these obligations may entitle you to sue the school for negligence if your child is injured during a science lesson in the lab.
Common causes of science lab accidents
Science lab accidents in schools can often be avoided by following the appropriate safety measures and guidelines. In many cases, they occur due to inadequate risk assessments, a lack of PPE, broken equipment or inadequate teacher supervision.
- Risk assessment failures – Inadequate risk assessments are a common cause of injuries in school science labs. This involves failing to identify, evaluate, and control potential hazards in the lab, including chemical hazards, flammable materials, toxic gases, and dangerous equipment.
- Failure to provide PPE – Working with hazardous lab substances without proper gloves, lab coats, or safety goggles can result in burns and eye injuries from chemical splashes or cuts from broken equipment.
- Inadequate teacher training or supervision – Teachers must have adequate training and competence to conduct and oversee experiments. A breach of duty may arise if pupils are left unsupervised or safety protocols are not closely followed.
- Poorly maintained equipment – Schools have a duty to regularly inspect, maintain and replace lab equipment to ensure it is safe for use. Faulty Bunsen burners, damaged electrical equipment or cracked glassware can cause burns, cuts, electrocution and other injuries.
These and other types of negligence can result in serious harm during science classes at school.
Common injuries in school science lab accidents
School lab accidents commonly result in cuts from broken glass, burns from chemicals or Bunsen burners and eye injuries from chemical splashes.
The most common injuries seen in science lab accidents at school include:
- Cuts and lacerations – usually caused by broken glassware such as beakers or test tubes, scalpels or other sharp instruments.
- Chemical burns and splashes – these occur when acids, alkalis and other irritants come into contact with the skin or eyes due to a lack of PPE.
- Thermal burns and scalds – typically caused by touching hot surfaces, boiling liquids, extremely cold materials such as dry ice or accidents involving Bunsen burners.
- Eye injuries – incidents involving chemical splashes or broken glass and debris flying into the eyes can result in severe injuries, including vision loss, without goggle protection.
- Poisoning – inhaling hazardous chemical fumes due to poor ventilation can result in nausea, dizziness, lung irritation and other physical symptoms.
The type and severity of injury will determine how much you could be awarded if you make a successful science lab accident at school claim.
How do I make a school science lab accident claim?
To make a science lab injury compensation claim, you should report the incident to the school, seek medical attention for injuries, document everything, and seek early legal help.
The key steps of a personal injury claim are:
- Report the incident and make sure it is recorded in the school’s accident book for proof.
- Seek medical care to have your child’s injuries diagnosed and treated and secure medical evidence.
- Gather supporting evidence, including photos of injuries and hazards and witness statements.
- Keep all documents related to financial losses and expenses, such as receipts for travel and medication.
- Contact a specialist solicitor for a free case assessment and legal advice.
- Your solicitor will gather further evidence, establish liability and send a letter of claim to the defendant.
- If liability is admitted, you can negotiate a settlement; otherwise, your solicitor may issue court proceedings.
Evidence needed for a science lab accident claim
To make a successful claim, you must prove that the accident occurred, that it caused your child injury and that it was due to a breach of duty. Important evidence to establish liability and the extent of harm and loss incurred includes:
- A copy of the accident report form completed by the school
- Medical records from the A&E, GP or hospital visits
- Photographs and videos of the science lab, faulty equipment, hazards and the injury
- Witness statements from staff or other pupils
- School risk assessments and safety policies
- Lesson plans or details of the experiment carried out
- Records of staff training and competence
- Inspection and maintenance records for equipment
- Financial documents to prove losses and expenses
How to obtain key evidence from the school
Documents such as inspection and maintenance logs or risk assessments can help show whether the school complied with the legislation and took reasonable care to protect your child’s safety.
There are several ways to obtain these records:
- You can contact the school directly and request copies of relevant documents. The school may provide these voluntarily, especially if you plan to pursue a claim.
- You can make a Subject Access Request (SAR) to the school to obtain any personal data they hold about your child’s science lab accident.
- You can find inspection reports for schools in England on the Ofsted website.
- You can submit a written Freedom of Information (FOI) request to a public authority to obtain documents related to safety policies, risk assessments, staff training and inspections.
Once you instruct a solicitor, they can request all the documents you need to support your claim and seek compensation for your child.
What is the time limit for making a science lab accident claim?
Generally, you have three years from the date of an accident to start a personal injury claim under the Limitation Act 1980. However, this limitation period does not apply in the same way to child injury claims.
Instead, if your child is injured due to the school’s negligence, you can claim compensation on their behalf at any time until they turn 18. If no claim is made, they have until their 21st birthday to start a claim themselves afterwards.
While you are allowed a lot of time to make a school compensation claim, we advise you to start as soon as possible. This helps ensure evidence remains available and reliable, which can improve your chances of success.
How much compensation could I claim for my child’s injuries?
The amount of compensation awarded for science lab accidents and injuries will depend on two types of damages that will be included in the claim:
- General damages cover the pain and suffering experienced by your child, long-term scarring, impact on quality of life and loss of amenity.
- Special damages cover any related financial losses and expenses, including treatment costs, travel to medical appointments and loss of earnings while taking care of your child.
The actual compensation award for general damages is calculated using the Judicial College Guidelines (18th Edition) and will depend on the severity of the injuries. Here are some potential compensation examples for various injuries:
| Injury Type | Description | Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| Asthma | Mild asthma, bronchitis or other chest problems resolving within a few months | Up to £6,800 |
| Injuries Affecting Sight | A temporary eye injury with full recovery within a few weeks | £2,900 - £5,200 |
| Minor but permanent sight impairment in one or both eyes | £12,000 - £28,000 | |
| Serious partial sight loss in one eye | £31,000 - £52,000 | |
| Scarring To Other Parts Of The Body | One noticeable scar or several superficial scars on the legs, arms or hands | £3,100 - £10,000 |
| Scarring To The Face | Minor facial scars with very little impact on appearance | £2,300 - £4,700 |
| One or more small facial scars with no major impact on appearance | £5,200 - £18,000 |
No win no fee claims for science lab accidents at school
If you are eligible to make a claim for compensation, your solicitor will provide a no win no fee agreement. This means there are no upfront legal fees, and you won’t pay your solicitor for their work if your claim is unsuccessful.
You only pay your solicitor a fee if your claim succeeds. In this case, a success fee capped at 25% will be deducted from the compensation for pain, suffering and past financial losses, and paid to your solicitor.
If your child has been injured in a science lab accident at school, call 0800 470 0472 today for free legal advice or enter your details into our online claim form to request a call back.
