Young Workers Safety....

Advice for Employers ... Young people are classed as any person under the age of 25. As an employer you have a specific additional responsibility to ensure that any young person, working under your control, is provided with a safe workplace; of course you have to provide a safe workplace for all workers, but specific consideration, regarding the safety of any young person is particularly important, as s/he may be too immature in their understanding to appreciate the hazards and risks that they may face; hazards and risks where other, more mature experienced members of staff, may otherwise appreciate; therefore young people can be at particular risk because they lack experience, training and awareness. They need good advice, information and supervision as well as suitable, safe and healthy jobs. The results of bad practice • Manufacturing firm fined £750k after young worker’s death after a young worker was fatally crushed when his arm was caught in a powered roller. A critical guard was missing on the machine where there should have been fixed guards surrounding the powered roller to prevent access to the dangerous moving parts. • Director sentenced after 24-year-old dies on second day of job after a trench collapsed in on him. Despite the effort of rescuers who dug for 15 minutes to free him, 24-year-old Callum Osborne died of traumatic asphyxia at the scene The benefits of good practice Apart from complying with the law, there are clear benefits from paying attention to the health and safety of young workers, these incude: • Effective safety management systems can improve the efficiently of the organisation • All employees will benefit from improved safety measures • Young people can bring higher energy levels and enthusiasm with a willing to learn which can motivate all staff • Your reputation as a good employer will help you to attract good quality contracts as well as new quality young recruits Risk Assessment, organisation and prevention Employers must identify hazards and carry out a Risk Assessment to determine the particular risks to young people and the prevention measures needed. Risk Assessments for a young person should cover: • tasks that the young people must NOT do, such as using specific equipment and specific work processes, not entering restricted areas, and only doing specified activities under supervision • supervision needs and arrangements • information, instruction and training needs and arrangements • arrangements to take account of any special requirements of young people with disabilities or special needs • where necessary informing parents and guardians of risks and control measures or liaison with work experience placement and vocational training organisers • communicate expectations to young workers If you offer work experience placements to young people, you should provide them with at least the same health and safety protection as you would give your own employees. If you would like us to complete a Young Persons Risk Assessment for you, Please CLICK HERE Under-18s If you employ under-18 year-olds, including those on vocational training and work experience placements and those doing casual work while still at school or college, more specific regulations apply covering restrictions regarding their exposure to hazards and working hours. Making supervision arrangements Employers must make proper arrangements for supervising young people; for example, some employers assign mentors or supervisors to young people. These mentors / supervisors should: • be adequately trained about risks and control measures connected with the work of young people • be made aware of any restrictions on the tasks young people can do • understand their role, what is required of them, and how to carry out their duties • be given sufficient time and the authority to carry out their supervisory tasks. Arrangements should cover: • know the reporting arrangements to notify any problems about young people’s safety Training It is essential that young people receive effective health and safety training before they start work, allocating sufficient time, including: • specific hazards related to their job and common hazards in the workplace generally • what to do to protect themselves • what to do if they think something is unsafe • who to go to for advice • what to do in an emergency, if they have an accident, or if they need first aid • their responsibilities to cooperate with you on safety Leading by example It is important that you demonstrate your own commitment to health and safety, establish procedures and measures and keep them up-to-date, emphasise that unsafe practices are unacceptable and respond promptly to health and safety concerns. CLICK HERE for Further information on young worker safety

For more information on Young Workers Safety.... talk to Safety Services Direct Ltd