'Not an isolated event': Questacon fined after child's hands catch fire

The commonwealth has been fined $140,000 over an incident where a child's hands caught fire at Questacon in July 2022.

The nine-year-old was touching a plasma globe in one of the National Science and Technology Centre's galleries, when a spark ignited the alcohol-based hand sanitiser she had used.

The girl was left with serious burns to her hands.

After a Comcare investigation, the Department of Industry, Science and Resources, which is responsible for Questacon, was charged with breaching work, health and safety laws.

The offence carries a maximum penalty of a fine of $1.5 million.

In a victim impact statement provided to the ACT Magistrates Court, the child's mother said seeing her daughter "on fire and screaming was horrific", and a memory she would carry with her for the rest of her life.

The court heard of testing and other incidents in which visitors were zapped or burned in the months beforehand, meaning Questacon had been aware of the risk posed by the alcohol-based sanitiser.

The commonwealth pleaded guilty, but argued steps had been taken, including switching from a gel to a foam-based sanitiser, and dispenser stations having been positioned 10 metres from the exhibit to allow the substance to dry on people's hands before they touched it.

Prosecutors argued Questacon could have removed the exhibit, provided non-alcohol-based sanitiser or soap and water, installed warning signage, or supervised the use of the globes — a measure that had been recommended by the national science centre's own risk assessment.

'The risk of fire was foreseeable and foreseen'

Magistrate Ian Temby said it was a serious example of work health and safety offending.

"The risk of fire was foreseeable and foreseen," he said

"Questacon should have pursued alternative control measures to those that were adopted."

But Magistrate Temby said he did not doubt the commonwealth's remorse, and an absence of similar, prior work health and safety charges was "demonstrative of a strong commitment to the safety of its operations".

The commonwealth received a 20 per cent discount to a $175,000 fine for its guilty plea, and was ordered to pay $140,000.

Questacon's response 'inadequate'

In a statement, Comcare CEO Colin Radford said the regulator's investigation found the injury risk was significant and obvious.

"The child's injuries marked the sixth safety incident in five months involving the globes,"

Mr Radford said.

"This included a near miss in February 2022 where a staff member noticed the combination of hand sanitiser with metal could cause sparks from a plasma globe, and another incident that month where a visitor received a shock to a hand.

"Questacon's response to these incidents was inadequate.

"It's a large, interactive facility with inherent workplace health and safety risks that require a proactive approach and constant vigilance."

'Questacon should be a place of fun'

In a statement, the Department of Industry, Science and Resources apologised to the victim and her family.

"We understand this was a distressing incident," the department said.

"The safety of both visitors and staff is of paramount importance to Questacon, and both Questacon and the department are committed to maintaining Questacon as a safe place for all to visit and work."

The department said Questacon had taken "immediate action to close and then remove the exhibit" after the incident, and then undertook reviews.

"Our exhibits and activities are supported by health and safety, risk management and exhibit planning processes that are regularly reviewed and strengthened to ensure Questacon is a safe place to visit," the statement said.

"Questacon should be a place of fun, discovery and adventure.

"We are committed to ensuring we provide a safe and engaging place for young Australians to learn and grow."