Health and Safety
Work Experience is one of the most important links between industry
and secondary schools. It involves more Students, more industries and more time
devoted to practical experience than any other activity. This will probably be the
first experience of working life for many, and is an excellent opportunity for Students
to gain an early understanding of the importance of safe working practices and attitudes.
Successful management of the health and safety of work experience placements relies
on close co-operation between all participants i.e. Education Services, Employers,
Teachers, Students and their Parents or Guardians.
Legal Requirements
Employers have the statutory
responsibility as laid down in the Health & Safety at Work etc Act 1974 for the
duty of care for all employees (including Students on work experience) and must
ensure, so far as is practicable, their health, safety and welfare at work.
Letter of Understanding
To ensure that the implications of the work experience scheme and arrangements
between the firm or organisation providing work experience and the local Education
Services are fully understood, a letter of understanding is issued to all prospective
placement providers. A signed acknowledgement slip confirming that this letter of
understanding is acceptable to you must be returned to the relevant organisation
prior to a placement commencing.
Insurance
Public and Employer's Insurances will provide cover for Students for the period(s)
of work experience. Firms or organisations providing work experience must be prepared
to accept Students on this basis and should advise their insurers accordingly.
Risk Assessment
Under the Health and Safety (Young Persons) Regulations 1999, employers
are required to assess the risks to their young workers before they start work.
Students on work experience have the same protection under health and safety law
as employees. This entails assessing the risks which employees are exposed to at
work, introducing appropriate control measures and providing training and supervision.
According to current legislation, employers are responsible for informing parents
or guardians of the outcome of a risk assessment and the control measures in place.
However, we wish to make participation in the programme as straightforward as possible
and will take responsibility for making information available to parents or guardians.
Vetting of Placements
The Health & Safety Officers
are responsible for organising the vetting of work experience placement providers.
All employers will be vetted through a programme of visiting or telephone contact
or assessing the employers risk assessment. Some placement providers will be automatically
visited depending on the nature of the opportunity e.g. whether the process being
carried out is considered low risk or high risk.
Note to employers:
Please note that the provision of Health & Safety Information does not remove the
Employer's obligation to comply with all or any Health & Safety Legislation, Codes
of Practice approved or otherwise, and European directives that may affect the Health
& Safety of employees or others concerned.