Absolute Health and Safety Solutions Ltd - SAFE START

In 2006, a campaign will also promote activities in Schools, Colleges and the wider education community, and promote the issue among the relevant policy makers in the education field. The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work has already carried out several projects on the ‘mainstreaming of Occupational Health and Safety into education’ and the 2006 campaign will draw on these resources. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is supporting this initiative now known as ‘Start Safe’ and is dedicated to the occupational safety and health of young people.

There are 75 million young people in the EU 25 Member States. They need preparing for the health and safety aspects of their work before they start work - risk awareness education at school as well as vocational training. At work they need safe and healthy jobs, training and supervision.

According to European statistics, the incidence rate of non-fatal accidents at work is at least 50% higher among those aged 18-24 years than in any other age category

‘Start Safe' has a dedicated week 23-27 October 2006. Employers, Schools and Colleges can get involved. The HSE has a dedicated website for the campaign, allowing Free Downloads to help support.

Better still you can obtain Further Free Online Information and a ‘Start Safe Campaign Pack’ from The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, the information can be obtained in over twenty languages.

You can support a Europe-wide campaign to promote risk prevention and risk awareness in the workplace and in the education community. If you and your organisation would like to be active in the campaign and conduct activities during European Week, 23-27 October 2006, you are eligible to sign the 'Safe Start Charter' and to have your efforts recognised by means of a Certificate of Participation. You or you organisation can be apart of this campaign and help protect the young assets of the future Just Register at The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work and show your support.

Also to accompany the European Week Campaign, the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work is running this year’s European Good Practice Awards. The Good Practice Awards will recognise companies or organisations, including schools, colleges and training providers, which have made outstanding and innovative contributions to ensure young people make a safe start in their working lives. The awards aim to demonstrate, by example, the benefits of following good safety and health practices to all European employers and workers and to schools, colleges, young people and their parents, only by submitting a UK Application Form. But remember the closing date for all applications is Friday 15th September 2006. Applications must be received in full and electronically by this date.

Absolute Health and Safety Solutions Ltd is a firm believer in training for the future, adding the basics of Occupational Health and Safety as part of the national curriculum would be a massive step forward in reducing accidents in the workplace:

Absolute Health and Safety Solutions Ltd can also assist with organisations when undertaking Workplace Risk Assessments and Young Persons Risk Assessments, both of which are critical to ensuring all hazards in the workplace are identified. Also employers, or under the new Fire Reform Order which comes into force on 01 October 2006 'The Responsible Person' will require to undertake a Fire Risk Assessment, to reduce the risks of fire in the workplace. We can also advise on solutions to help reduce the risks to an acceptable level, simply complete our Request for Service Form and one of our staff will contact you directly.
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Current Legislation:

Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 – Requires employers to assess the risks related to the hazards in the workplace, with a stronger emphasis on young persons because of their inexperience.

Council Directive 89/391 of 12 June 1989 on the introduction of measures to encourage improvements in the safety and health of workers at work puts general obligations on employers to assess risks, bring in protective measures and provide information and training. Risk assessments should also identify groups of workers that are particularly at risk, such as young workers. Young workers are required to cooperate with their employer’s health and safety arrangements and make correct use of anything provided in the interests of health and safety.

Council Directive 94/33/EC of 22 June 1994 on the protection of young people at work applies to workers under the age of 18 - Employers’ have general obligations, such as protection of the health and safety of young people, assessment of the risks to young people associated with their work, assessment and monitoring of the health of young people, information for young people and children's legal representatives on the possible risks to their health and safety.

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Other resources for Young Workers include:
RoSPA's Young Worker
Young People - Resources and Links

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