A third childcare service operator has been penalised by the State Administrative Tribunal after a child was burnt by hot ground surface.
North Fremantle School of Early Learning was brought before the State Administrative Tribunal by the Department of Communities where it was ordered to pay $10,000 in fines and costs.
The offence related to an incident on 3 February this year, when a two-year-old child sustained burns to her feet while playing in the service’s outdoor area.
An investigation by the Department found that a group of children had been taken outside for afternoon tea in the service’s undercover area at 2:20pm.
A small number of children left the undercover area and moved into an outdoor yard, before being escorted back by the service’s staff.
The burns may have been caused by the child stepping on either brick pavers or a metal grate that was or had been directly exposed to the sun. The child was not wearing shoes at the time, and the burns required medical treatment.
Deputy Director General, Governance, Integrity and Reform at the Department, Samantha Palmer said it was the third time in recent weeks that the State Administrative Tribunal had penalised a childcare operator regarding children being burnt by hot surfaces or play equipment.
“Most childcare service operators seem to focus primarily on UV exposure in their service policies. In addition, they must also have clear procedures in place to ensure that play surfaces, play equipment and walkways are checked regularly on hot days,” Ms Palmer said.
“Adequate supervision, thorough risk assessments and staff communication, are just as important in avoiding these kinds of incidents,” she said.
