Employing young people:
Trainees and young workers - HSE targets high risk group

The responsibility for the safety of inexperienced or young staff lies with the employer. Stephen Williams, a senior figure within the HSE, recently stated that

“…employment opportunities must not come at the expense of young workers' safety. With the number of apprentices in the workplace set to increase, it is critical that the work they are expected to carry out has been properly assessed and suitable controls put in place to ensure their health and safety. Managers and supervisors have to recognise that youngsters fresh to the workplace may well have a limited perception of the risks involved in the work".

When hiring a young worker (including work experience students), as an employer, you must carry out a risk assessment. Your risk assessment must specifically take into account the young person's possible lack of awareness of existing or potential risks, immaturity and inexperience.

The extent of the risks identified in the risk assessment will also determine whether you should restrict the work of the young person and the level of supervision that they will require in your workplace. A kitchen can be a particularly dangerous place to someone that has never worked in one before and training is essential to make them aware of the hazards around them. This also applies to trainee staff who are also not necessarily familiar with the dangers in their workplace.

How confident are you that your managers are able to conduct ‘suitable and sufficient’ risk assessments?

Ideally, managers and supervisors should be trained to enable them to conduct risk assessments and manage day to day health & safety in their workplace. Completing Managing Safely, which is a four day IOSH certificated course, will provide your team with the necessary skills and motivation for these activities. This course can be conducted on your premises or alternatively find out about the next Managing Safely course in London by contacting us.

Employers will find an excellent information resource in the HSE produced information leaflet entitled ‘The Right Start’. You can view or download the publication by clicking on the following link: http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg364.pdf

Alternatively, you may wish to visit the HSE microsite regarding young workers at http://www.hse.gov.uk/youngpeople/index.htm