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Safety Net Journal Issue 4 |
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Protect Young People – European Week for Safety and Health
The theme for this year’s European Health and Safety Week is health and safety for young workers. The Week runs from 21 to 27 October under the heading ‘Safe Start!’
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The aim is to raise awareness of the risks that young people face and to make sure the employers are meeting their legal duties to protect them. Details of the campaign can be found at the European Occupational Safety and Health Agency's website - http://ew2006.osha.europa.eu/.
Overall work-related deaths and serious injuries have declined,but death and injuries among 16-24 year olds have been increasing at an alarming rate over the last 5 years.
Recent examples include a young factory worker who was crushed to death after vital safety equipment was switched off on a stone cutting machine and a 19-year-old soldier crushed to death when performing a check on an eight-wheeled military vehicle with another soldier.
Employers have legal duties under health and safety law to do more detailed risk assessments that take account of the immaturity and inexperience of young workers.
Nearly 4,500 young people were seriously injured or killed at work last year, over 20 per cent more than five years ago, according to a new report from the TUC backed magazine 'Hazards'. One person aged under 25 dies every month in a workplace accident, while thousands more are forced to take at least three days off after being hurt or injured.
The Hazards report 'Too young to die' can be downloaded from:
http://www.hazards.org/2young2die/
Usdaw will be circulating copies of the HSE's European campaign pack to branches in October along with TUC guidance on the importance of health and safety for young people as an organising issue for reps.
The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) has also launched an exciting web site with games, educational aids and competitions aimed at young workers themselves - www.wiseup2work.co.uk/
Source: Usdaw
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