One person burned in school boiler accident

File photo / NZ Herald

A caretaker at an Auckland school was hospitalised with facial burns from a boiler today.

The middle-aged man was taken to Middlemore Hospital in a moderate condition after the incident, initially believed to be a boiler explosion.

Emergency services were called to Greenmeadows School in Manurewa about 1.45pm.

Manurewa Fire Statiion Officer Roy Williams said the man was burnt by flames from the coal-fired boiler.

"One of the caretakers had fired it up in the morning and later on he went to check it to see if it was working okay," he said.

"It was working okay but unfortunately when he opened an inspection cap he was a little bit too close and his face got burnt by the flames inside."

He said the man was in a lot of pain but was able to speak.

When emergency services arrived he was applying cold water to his face from a shower, Mr Williams said.

Greenmeadows School Board of Trustees chair Ross Barr said the school was not going to comment on specifics of the incident.

"There was an incident at the school this afternoon involving the boiler and a staff member was taken to hospital for medical assessment," he said.

"He has received good medical care and out of respect for him and his privacy we are unable to give any more information."

Mr Barr said the school's health and safety team would conduct an investigation.

The boiler would not be used until the investigation was completed.

In 2009, Orewa College caretaker Richard Nel died after receiving burns to 90 per cent of his body when a boiler exploded at the school.

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