Injuries on school grounds costly

Richard Inder

More Western Bay of Plenty students are getting injured on school grounds every year - costing our accident compensation scheme hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The head of a principals' group believes some claims may be from over-protective and anxious parents.

Almost 14,000 ACC claims were made by students for accidents that took place on school grounds or in school buildings between 2010 and 2014, according to ACC figures.

The number of claims rose each year to 3192 claims in 2014. The cost of claims was highest in 2013 at $802,009. Meanwhile, more than 500 claims were made by teachers over the five-year period. The number of claims was highest in 2013, at 137 claims, but the total cost of claims was highest in 2012, at $100,248.

Fractures, dislocations and soft tissue injuries were among the most common causes of claims.

Gate Pa School principal Richard Inder expected the greater range of activities available to students accounted for the increase in claims. "Our children are involved in a whole range of physical activities, including climbing trees, adventure playgrounds, rugby, league and a number of other sports" he said.

"There's far more available to them than there was 10 years ago and 20 years ago.

"Part of that is the use of a lot more equipment - that's probably another reason for the increase."

However, the portion of children injured was small, he said. "Over the years we might have had one broken arm on the adventure playground - not 101, one, possibly two - and we get a few sprained ankles.

"That's a very small, very minor portion of children who get injuries considering the amount of active play they're involved in."

Mr Inder said it was possible parents were reporting injuries to ACC more than they did in the past. "Parents want their children active and involved and we certainly encourage it."

As in any workplace, the odd accident by staff was inevitable, he said. Nationally, 361,450 ACC claims were made by students in the past five years. The claims cost ACC more than $100 million. The number of claims increased each year to 79,622 in 2014. The total cost of claims was higher in 2013, at $19,390,681.

New Zealand Principals' Federation president Denise Torrey was surprised the number of claims had increased.

"Are our kids being nice and active like we want them to be? Are we covering our kids in too much cotton wool or is it just that we're getting better at reporting these things?"

She did not think school grounds had become more dangerous.NZME.