Written by admin on February 17th, 2014

Businesses employing the zestful talents of young people are responsible under the watchful eye of the law for maintaining their health, safety and welfare.

As with older members of the existing workforce, employers must do all they can – within practical reason – to ensure the safety of staff.

Age knows no limits when it comes to safety. Whether staff members are young or old, employers are duty bound to act.

Reynolds Training Services managing director, John Reynolds, explains that “reasonably practicable” is a legal term which “often leaves employers scratching their heads”.

“In laymans terms,” says Mr Reynolds, “reasonably practicable simply involves weighing risk levels present in a workplace against any possible control measures. If the risk demands, systems of safe control are needed.”

First steps to safety

The reality is that new employees are often unfamiliar with risks at a site and, as such, might be unaware of the steps they should take to stay safe.

Safety management procedures, cautions Mr Reynolds, do not always have to be implemented. This is particularly the case where time and monetary costs would be considered – in a legal sense – grossly disproportionate to the identified risk.

Even so, he adds: “For many young people, this might be their first time in a work environment. It is advisable that employers therefore carry out a review of their risk assessment, factoring in any specific risks that young person might face before they start.”

“Employers do have a responsibility to safeguard young employees against exposure to risk caused by a lack of experience.”

Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999

Mr Reynolds, referencing the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, explains that employers have a duty to ensure young people are not exposed to risk due to:

Lack of experience
Being unaware of existing or potential risks
Lack of maturity

An employer must also consider:

The layout of the workplace
The physical, biological and chemical agents they will be exposed to
How they will handle work equipment
How the work and processes are organised
The extent of health and safety training needed; and risks from particular agents, processes and work

Safety advice to those employing young people

First steps to safety

Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999

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