With as many as half a million school students getting ready to go on work experience, health and safety expert Croner is urging UK businesses to review their safety procedures before welcoming young people to their workplaces.
Viewed as an essential part of a young personís development, work experience is an important introduction to working life. However, if not managed correctly it can have a devastating and in some cases, fatal consequence.
Defining the age of someone on work experience is vital to work out what they are allowed to do under health and safety law. It defines a child as anyone who has not yet reached the minimum school leaving age (MSLA) and a young person as an individual above the MSLA but below the age of 18 years old.
Under the law, students on placement will be regarded as employees and employers are therefore responsible for their wellbeing. A risk assessment is essential to reduce risks and prevent harm. Employers should look at the layout of the workplace, the equipment being used, training requirements and any work hazards such as chemical and physical agents that they may be exposed to.
Stephen Thomas, health and safety expert with Croner, says: ìAs most young workers who take part in work experience have little or no knowledge of working environments, it is vital for employers to understand the risks involved when taking on young students.
ìYoung people will be facing unfamiliar risks from the job they will be doing and so will need more guidance, adequate training and closer supervision.
ìCompanies must also be prepared for visits from work experience co-ordinators who will take note of key issues such as housekeeping, lighting, fire precautions, toilet facilities and electrical wiring.î
Croner recommends that employers follow these tips to make sure their health and safety procedures cover young people on work experience:
Understand the difference between a child and a young person: a child is a person below the minimum school leaving age while a young person is someone above the minimum school leaving age but under the age of 18. There are different legislative requirements/precautions for each definition.
Children under the age of 13 are generally prohibited from any form of employment. Local authorities have the power to make bylaws as to the type of work that children can do aged between 13 and the minimum school leaving age, so it is important to check with the authority if children of this age are to be employed.
Be aware of the limitations of a child or a young worker - certain types of work are prohibited or restricted e.g. riding on a tractor or other agricultural machinery, using power presses and operating a crane or fork lift truck.
Risk Assessment - conduct a suitable and sufficient assessment of risks given the nature of a child/young person e.g. physical/intellectual development, lack of familiarity with workplaces, susceptibility to chemical agents, attention spans, etc. Employers should review this as necessary.
Ensure supervision is provided commensurate to the level of risk e.g. for a placement in a small office the required supervision may be less than that required in an industrial setting.
Make sure communication is encouraged between the people arranging work placement, the employer and parents/guardians (where the placement is a child) regarding the risks. Present and always supply a copy of the companyís risk assessment.
Ensure adequate training is provided covering site induction (including emergency arrangements and welfare facilities), task-related training, etc.
Be aware of any statutory limitations e.g. working time, no night work, rest breaks, prohibitions on certain work types.
Keeping Students Safe on Work Experience
Croner says employers must consider their obligations under the law to ensure the safety of students on work experience
