keeping young workers safe helping young people to manage health and safety risks in the workplace:...

Keeping Young Workers Safe

Helping young people to manage health and safety risks in the workplace:

BSC Entry Level Award in Workplace Hazard Awareness

Paul Gordon Policy and Research Manager British Safety Council (BSC)

London Health & Safety Forum , 8th June 2010


Purpose

To review the risks faced by young people at work

To look at ways to manage these risks…including a new education programme for schools introduced by the British Safety Council

Coverage

British Safety Council - who we are, mission, objectives and charitable work Injury and fatality rates involving young workers Why are young workers at greater risk and how do we manage this? Example initiative: BSC Award in Workplace Hazard Awareness; aim, benefits and

lessons learned How you can help?


British Safety Council

One of the UK’s leading health and safety organisations founded in 1957. 8,500 member companies in over 50 countries worldwide

Mission is to support a healthier, safer and more sustainable society through a variety of activities;

- Training, advisory, qualifications and audit services- Conferences, events and award schemes- Campaigning and shaping public policy

Our charitable projects;- Free Entry Level qualifications for all 14-19 year old in full-time education- Free training and qualifications for those not in education, employment or training- Working for a safe London Olympics in 2012


Incident rates

A young person is seriously injured in a UK workplace every 40 minutes

In the UK, in the last decade, 66 under-19s have been killed at work

EU sources show that the incident rate of non-fatal accidents at work per 100,000 workers was more than 40% higher among those aged 18-24

Research indicates that young, inexperienced, workers are more than 5 times more likely to be injured during their first 4 weeks on the job

There is believed to be widespread under-reporting of workplace injuries involving young people (employers reluctant to report accidents, young workers wish to avoid being seen as a ‘complainer’)


Contributing factors

Lack of experience and training – young workers are often less experienced with less knowledge of workplace hazards than the average worker

Physically demanding work - young workers experience physically demanding working conditions more often than the average worker. Young workers are more likely to partake in lower grade, manual tasks

Irregular working arrangements - young workers often work irregular hours. Shift work can increase the risk of workplace injury. Working at night can lead to a higher risk of accident due to the lower number of workers and supervisors


How can we reduce the incident rate?

Educate young workers; greater commitment to improve education and training in schools and the workplace

Educate employers; to provide better training and supervision for young workers. Promote best practice, worker involvement and positive safety culture

Enforcement; tougher sentencing for rogue employers sends out a strong message

Special focus on construction and agriculture; these sectors account for the largest percentage of incidents involving young workers

Sensible, proportionate management of risk; – not ‘cotton wool’ society, nor over regulation. Instead, focus on education…


What is your council doing?

What is your council doing to manage these risks faced by young workers?

What arrangements do they have in place to protect young people either on work experience placements or in their first job?



A free qualification aimed at keeping young people healthy and safe at work:



Aim

To raise young people’s awareness of workplace hazards before they embark on work experience or their first job

There is no provision of accredited workplace health & safety training for young people in the National Curriculum


Benefits to schools

Accredited in UK National Qualifications Framework

Can be taught within existing programmes of study

Supported by free teaching resources

Teachers are able to deliver the qualification without the need for additional training

Contributes to UK school performance figures

Important component of UK 14-19 Diploma

Supported by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE)


Benefits to young people

Help to keep them safe on work experience or in first job

Raise awareness of important health and safety issues

Increase confidence and self esteem

A recognised, accredited qualification


Subject content

Mapped to National Occupational Standards for Health and Safety

Includes:

Identification of hazards Safety, fire and traffic signs in the workplaceCauses of fire and preventative action Personal Protective EquipmentPersonal hygieneFirst aid provisionReporting accidents, near misses and ill healthResponsibilities of the employer and employee


Delivery

Suggested that schools deliver the qualification as part of build-up to work experience

8 hours recommended to complete learning and assessment

Assessed by a simple portfolio of evidence

Other suggestions; School Workplace Hazard Awareness Day, invite local employers to give talks about workplace hazards, take part in BSC poster/video competitions

Progression route…

Students can progress to the (higher level) BSC Level 1 Certificate in Health and Safety at Work


A great start . . .

Launched in academic year 2007/2008

1,800 schools (35% of UK total) have participated in this voluntary programme

50,000 young people have received the qualification to date


“ This is a very positive development. The pupils have benefited enormously and have thoroughly enjoyed the experience ”

Anita Cook, Head Teacher, Bedwas High School

“ They have enjoyed the learning and will go on work experience confident of how to be safe at work. This has been a wonderful opportunity for them ”

Alex Hammond, Head Teacher, Hagley High School

“ As a major employer, we fully support this excellent initiative to provide workplace hazard awareness training to school pupils ”

Russell Drakeley, Health & Safety Manager, Birmingham International Airport


Why has it been successful?

Assessment and training is free (funded by the British Safety Council)

High quality of teaching resources

Flexible methods of delivery

Teacher training is not required

Relevant and appropriate subject matter

Engaging and fun for the students

Qualification is recognised / accredited by UK Regulatory Authorities


Evaluating the impact of the programme

In 2010, BSC is conducting research to evaluate the impact of this qualification upon young people

Research aims to determine its effectiveness in keeping young people healthy and safe in the workplace

Undertaken by surveys and interviews with participating students, before/after completed the course and completed work experience

Preliminary results expected in July 2010


The next 10 years…

The British Safety Council has committed £5 million of charitable reserves to fund the programme over the next 10 years

The programme is now available in British International Schools

GAP year and volunteer schemes are delivering training to schools in developing countries

BSC is keen to work with local authorities, education bodies, schools and young people to continue to extend this training….


How you can help

Help us to promote the benefits of this programme to schools in your area…

It is easy for schools to register (online)

Remember: this is a charitable programme and it is free for schools to participate


The benefits for you…

Help to support a nationwide charitable initiative which has already benefitted 50,000 young people

Be part of the campaign to help lower the frequency of injuries and deaths involving young workers

The challenge is to become the first London borough to have every secondary school registered to deliver the programme!

Contribute to a healthier, safer society


www.britsafe.org/schools

Telephone: 020 8600 1035

Email: [email protected]

Thank you!

keeping young workers safe helping young people to manage health and safety risks in the workplace:...

Documents

young workers safe slide

young workers sensible

young workers safe benefits

young workers safe purpose

demanding work young

young person

young people healthy

lower number of workers