Young people must be warned about workplace safety

Health & Safety update 27/06/2011

Employers are being urged to educate young people about workplace safety.

The British Safety Council (BSC) has warned that, with work experience at its height this month, 100,000 youngsters could be at risk.

The BSC’s campaign to highlight the possible dangers within the workplace comes as many young people enter an unfamiliar environment for the first time.

According to research, a young person suffers a serious injury in the workplace every 40 minutes. Alongside employers, parents and teachers are also being urged to discuss possible dangers with their charges.

A BSC spokesperson said, “Talk to your children; make sure they understand the risks that they could face in unfamiliar surroundings. As parents, teachers and employers we need to be socially responsible and educate them.”

British Safety Council chief executive, Julie Nerney, said, “The British Safety Council’s message is that health and safety is about adopting a sensible attitude. It is not about being overprotective or stopping young people from doing everyday tasks. Realistically however young people are more vulnerable if they’re just entering the workplace,” she added.

The BSC will be running a ’Speak Up, Stay Safe’ campaign this summer, with a series of events designed to educate young people about workplace dangers and how to prevent accidents occurring.