Protecting young people at work
August 1st 2008

Young people between the ages of 18-24 suffer a 50% higher injury rate in the workplace than their older colleagues. A dedicated training approach is clearly required to better prepare young people for the world of work, but what should this involve? HSM's editor Georgina Bisby reports from a recent seminar held at the House of Commons to discuss this issue The safety of young workers often comes under the spotlight at this time of year as thousands of school and college leavers enter the workplace for the first time. But in 2008 consensus to address the issue has really gathered momentum.

Since it was identified that 63 under 19s were killed and over 15,000 seriously injured in the workplace in the decade leading up to 2005, the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) has made protecting the safety of young workers one of its key campaigns. At its seminar at the House of Commons, hosted by Michael Clapham, Chair of the All Party Group on Occupational Safety and Health, the safety body proposed that its Workplace Hazards Awareness Course (WHAC) for year 10 pupils should become a mandatory part of the National Curriculum.

"WHAC gives young people a basic grounding in health and safety before they leave school," explains IOSH president Ray Hurst. "It's available free of charge to all schools and colleges and it's really about preparing the students for work before they get there – something which doesn't really happen on the national curriculum at the moment," Ray claims.

If the course was to be made compulsory in schools: "WHAC would work a bit like the theory test you take when you're learning to drive," explains Ray. "It highlights some of the hazards you'll face, and the actions you need to take to keep yourself and others free from harm." Responding to Ray's proposal, Andrew Selous, Shadow Minister for Work and Pensions agreed it seems sensible to address the issue at school level as businesses are not always equally equipped to provide such training themselves: "Think of the difference between big corporations like Vodaphone and small businesses," he suggests.

IOSH is clear, however, that it does not see the incorporation of the course into the curriculum as a way of reducing the responsibilities of the employer: "Having started the learning process off at school, employers then have a vital part to play by providing induction training and ensuring adequate supervision of young people once they get into the workplace," Ray explains.

Selous suggests within the school environment teachers could make a difference by being good role models: "Young people watch what teachers do more than what they say. Staff could set a good example by holding the bannisters when they walk up and down stairs for example." However, Selous is cautious about the idea of making the WHAC course compulsory as part of the National Curriculum. "I would say to anyone who wants to add something to the curriculum - what are we going to take away? We have to be practical." Liberal Democrat MP, Paul Rowan says in his experience health and safety training not only should, but already does, take place in schools: "A lot of the material IOSH has produced such as its wise up to work resource (www.wiseuptowork.co.uk) will fit into schools because it is a reflection of what is already happening." The importance of young people experiencing risk in order to learn how to cope with it was emphasised by several of the speakers. Rowan in particular explains how, having taught in schools for several years and run the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme, he has seen first hand how experiencing risk in a controlled environment can be positive: "Managed risk allows young people to know where their boundaries are." In his time running the Duke of Edinburgh programme they only had to call out mountain rescue once, he adds.

Ray is keen to remind MPs that young people are particularly at risk when they enter the workplace. "They're keen, impressionable, excited and they think they're unbreakable," he says.

Representing The Department for Work and Pensions, Labour MP Ann McGuire agrees: "We can't just catapult young people into the workplace, we must build up their skills." McGuire also suggests how we engage with young people is crucial in getting messages across effectively: "Perhaps we could reinvent some of the more "naive" figures we have seen is the past such as the 1950's character Tufty the Squirrel instead of using some of the more complex images we see today," suggests McGuire.

Tufty appeared in some original stories from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) to help deliver simple road safety messages to children.

Whether, as IOSH would like, its WHAC course is made a compulsory part of the curriculum or not, Andrew Selous raised an important point to take away from the day.

Speaking about a recent correspondence with a teacher over a work experience placement in his offices, he urged we must be careful to tackle the issue of protecting young people without unnecessarily denying them opportunities.

"Recently a placement didn't take place in my low-risk office because the teacher said she couldn't come up to the Houses of Parliament to undertake a risk assessment.

This was a pity as it prevented a young girl from having a valuable experience."

Six point plan

As part of its campaign, Putting young workers first, IOSH has drawn up a six point action plan to safeguard the welfare of young workers. The six points call for: Teacher training to cover delivering a module on health and safety Teaching health and safety in the classroom. IOSH alongside the HSE, has already produced the Workplace Hazard Awareness Course to help with this Checks on employers and workplaces to ensure that before young people go on work experience they have people with the right health and safety knowledge Employer vetting to include thorough checks to make sure that induction and routine supervision cover health and safety, and that supervision is good enough Accidents are generally under-reported, particularly involving learners.

IOSH wants the government to tighten up reporting requirements for learners in colleges and schools The government to make health and safety a priority when setting its strategic priorities for education, training and skills by including health and safety of young people on its next Learning and Skills Council grant letter