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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
Keeping Young Workers Safe
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?
Keeping Young Workers Safe
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
Keeping Young Workers Safe
Keeping Young Workers Safe
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’)
Keeping Young Workers Safe
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
Keeping Young Workers Safe
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…
Keeping Young Workers Safe
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?
Keeping Young Workers Safe
BSC Entry Level Award in Workplace Hazard Awareness
A free qualification aimed at keeping young people healthy and safe at work:
Keeping Young Workers Safe
BSC Entry Level Award in Workplace Hazard Awareness
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
Keeping Young Workers Safe
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)
Keeping Young Workers Safe
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
Keeping Young Workers Safe
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
Keeping Young Workers Safe
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
Keeping Young Workers Safe
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
Keeping Young Workers Safe
Keeping Young Workers Safe
“ 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
Keeping Young Workers Safe
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
Keeping Young Workers Safe
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
Keeping Young Workers Safe
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….
Keeping Young Workers Safe
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
Keeping Young Workers Safe
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
Keeping Young Workers Safe
www.britsafe.org/schools
Telephone: 020 8600 1035
Email: schools@britsafe.org
Thank you!
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