What’s the craziest thing you’ve had happen in your working environment? Now imagine that without your experience, training, and common sense and put a young employee in your shoes, and replay that incident. Think how they might cope and feel. It is a scary prospect, isn’t it? So yes, young workers new to a workplace face risks, because of their inexperience.
Who are Young Workers?
Apprentices and Workers who are in a working environment between the age of 13 and 18 are classed as Young Workers. The age of 13 is the minimum to start a part-time job. From 18 to 24, people are legally classed as adults.
For reference : A YOUTH WORKER is someone aged between 15–24 as defined by the United Nations. Anyone working from 15–24 whilst studying, self-employed, employed, working in a family business, or completing an apprenticeship is a youth worker They also mention that “Many young people are engaged in low-paying, precarious or informal work”– quote https://www.un.org/en/global-issues/youth
What are the statistics on the risk to young adults in the workplace?
The most common cause of fatal accidents to workers in 2021/22 was:
- Falls from height = 29
- Struck from a moving vehicle = 23
- Struck by moving/falling objects = 18
- Contact with moving machinery = 15
- Trapped by something collapsing / overturning = 14
93 of those fatal injuries were to workers between 16–59 years of age
-Source https://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/pdf/fatalinjuries.pdf for more information and demographics
What type of jobs can Young Workers do?
Depending on the position taken, the roles and risks associated with them are varied.
- Babysitting
- Paper round
- Dog Walking
- Gardening
- Leaflet dropping
- Waiting service
- Barista
- Hotel staff
- Kitchen porter
- Shop assistant
- Warehouse operative
- Cashier
- Online work
- Mystery shopper
It is very important to ensure that the Young Adult working for you is protected in the workplace, and of course, when working off-site too.
Risks in employing young workers
According to the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, young people in Europe are up to 40% more likely to suffer a work-related injury than older workers. When you’re considering employing a young worker, you must first review your risk assessment before they start. Sure, some young workers will be mature and more than capable of taking on the tasks at hand, but there will be others that will not have the maturity or the strength to safely cope with what is being expected of them. Make sure that you assess your young worker before setting them to work, provide them with a good induction
10 tips to help safeguard young workers, to ensure they stay safe in the workplace
- Review your risk assessment if you don’t currently employ a young worker
- Ensure the young worker is familiar with the area they are working in and any machinery and protective equipment
- Allow additional time for providing additional supervision and training
- Make other staff aware of the potential additional risks of having a young worker working in their environment
- Make sure the young worker understands what is expected of them by asking them to repeat your instructions
- Do not give them anything to do that would be outside their physical ability
- Make sure that they know how to raise concerns should they feel the need to do so
- Regularly check the young person’s progress and make applicable adjustments
- Just because they look competent and confident, don’t give them tasks that they are not trained or allowed to do.
- Provide a lone worker solution should you be expecting them to work alone, even if this is for a short time
Know young workers’ rights
Because of their age, young workers have extra rights to protect themselves. For example, they must not work more than 8 hours a day, 40 hours a week, and have a minimum of a 30-minute break if their working day is longer than 4.5hrs. If they are below school-leaving age, their hours are restricted further. There are rules around working at night too. You, as the employer, are responsible for making yourself aware of the laws and regulations that are in place to help protect them
If you’re employing a Young Worker, consider their lack of experience, maturity, and risk awareness. Take steps to mitigate risk to your staff and the business that you have developed.