Although children under 13 are prohibited from any form of work, young people are often brought into the workplace across a range of trades and industries. Young people are defined as those over the minimum school-leaving age of 16, but not yet 18, and are covered by the Health and Safety (Young Persons) Regulations 1997. Grace warned that more specific regulations apply for this category, including those on vocational training and work-experience placements.
However, Grace said employers should also take into account those aged 18-21. This group will also need extra support, and their work should be subject to special risk assessments, he maintained.
Grace concluded: “Good safety management is good for business and demonstrates an efficiently-run organisation. Measures to keep young people safe will also help to protect all employees.”
The guide is part of Norwich Union’s Simply Safety campaign and is available by following the link below.
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