'Ducting fell after wires failed' - HSE

Heating ducting fell onto pupils taking an exam after steel wires failed – the Health and Safety Executive has said.

An HSE statement on the incident at Minster College on the Isle of Sheppey said: “Initial investigations have identified that the steel wires which attached the ducting to the hall roof failed.

“Evidence gathered from the hall will now be examined by the Health & Safety Laboratory (HSL) in Buxton.

'It would be inappropriate to speculate, at this stage, on what may have caused the failure of the steel wires.”

A dozen students needed hospital treatment following the incident on Tuesday May 12 which took place in Minster College’s sports hall during a Year Nine exam.

HSE inspectors have now concluded their work and control of the hall has been handed back to the college.

The HSE statement said: “The investigation is likely to take sometime but HSE will provide further information when we are able to do so.”