Risk assessments

The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 requires employers to assess the health and safety risks arising from their work activities and to record the significant findings of the assessment. This includes the risks staff are exposed to while at work and the risks to others such as students, visitors and contractors that are affected by our activities.

The risk assessment process demonstrates that the risks relevant to work activities have been considered and that sensible and proportionate measures have been taken. It also assists Schools and Departments in managing risks and prioritising any actions and resources required.

The University Risk Assessment Procedure outlines the risk assessment process to ensure that the risks inherent in the activities of the University are assessed and appropriate controls put in place.

There is no requirement to carry out a separate assessment for a young person as the existing risk assessment should have taken this into consideration where required. In most cases, the necessary health and safety arrangements will be in place. However, if a School/Department has not employed a young person previously, the existing risk assessment(s) should be reviewed prior to them starting employment. This includes apprenticeships and work experience.

Under health and safety legislation, a young person is defined as anyone under the age of 18 and where they have not yet reached the official minimum school leaving age (MLSA), they are classed as a child. Pupils will reach the MLSA in the school year in which they turn 16.

Young persons may lack experience, maturity and/or be unaware of existing or potential risks and therefore may be at an increased risk. As such, this must be taken into consideration when developing/reviewing the risk assessment. In addition, the following must be looked at:

Layout of the workplace, the way the work activity is organised, the type and handling of equipment (eg. different size of tools or PPE, different workstation layout)
Risks from particular agents (eg. chemical, biological), processes and work activities
Health and safety training requirements.

In lower risk environments (eg. an office), this may be a relatively straightforward process however higher risk areas will require more consideration to ensure adequate controls are in place.

A young person - who is not a child - must not carry out work involving the following unless the risks are reduced to the lowest level, so far as reasonably practicable, the work is properly supervised and is necessary for their training. A young person who is classed as a child must not be exposed to these risks whether they are permanently employed or under training such as work experience:

Which is beyond their physical and/or psychological capacity. For example, are they capable of moving and handling safely in relation to weights/loads, following instructions safely.
Involves exposure to substances that are toxic, cause cancer, can damage/harm an unborn child or can chronically affect health in any other way.
Involves harmful exposure to radiation.
Involves a risk to health from extreme temperatures (cold, heat), noise or vibration.
Involves a risk of accidents that cannot be reasonably recognised or avoided due to their insufficient attention to safety, lack of experience or training.

Adequate training, instruction and supervision must be provided for a young person to enable them to work safely. This should be proportionate to the level of risk involved in the work activities, for example, work with machinery may require technical training and supervision over a longer period of time. Their progress should be monitored and additional adjustments/controls implemented where required.

It is important to check the instruction and training has been understood which will include, for example:

The hazards and risks involved
The health and safety control measures that are in place
First aid, fire safety and security arrangements, accident/near miss reporting, how to raise a health and safety concern.

Where a young person is classed as a child, the school/department must let their parents or guardians know the possible risks and the measures put in place to control them. This can be done in whatever way is simplest and suitable, including verbally.

Where the work experience has been organised through a school, they may have arrangements in place to notify the parents/guardians, so check with them first.