Córdoba court orders school to indemnify student injured in chemistry accident

A court in Córdoba, Argentina, has ordered a private educational institution to indemnify a 17-year-old student who suffered severe burns during a chemistry experiment. The accident occurred while students were performing the ‘Pharaoh’s Serpent’ experiment, which involves flammable materials. During the activity, a classmate added alcohol to the mixture, causing a sudden combustion and fire expansion that struck the victim.

The student spent 70 days in intensive care and underwent numerous surgical procedures, including skin grafts and ablations. The incident resulted in permanent psychophysical disability.

The Civil and Commercial Court of the 51st Nomination ruled that the school failed to guarantee necessary safety conditions. Investigations revealed the laboratory lacked basic protective equipment and that safety protocols were not properly applied. Additionally, the court noted insufficient supervision, as a single teacher was managing multiple groups performing activities involving fire simultaneously. The judge classified the relationship between the institution and the student as a ‘consumer contract,’ applying objective liability under the National Civil and Commercial Code.