Politicians are getting together this month to discuss what can be done to help better prepare young people for the workplace.
In the last decade, 64 under 19s have been killed and over 15,000 seriously injured in workplace accidents. The Occupational Safety and Health All Party Parliamentary Group and the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) are hosting a seminar at the House of Commons to discuss how this loss of life and suffering can be prevented.
One way of helping achieve this is by getting health and safety taught in the nation’s schools. That’s why IOSH, in partnership with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), has developed the Workplace Hazard Awareness Course (WHAC) for year 10 pupils.
Ray Hurst, the president of IOSH, explained:
“WHAC gives young people a basic grounding in health and safety before they leave school. It’s available free of charge to all schools and colleges and it’s really about preparing the students for work before they get there – something which seems eminently sensible to me and which doesn’t really happen on the national curriculum at the moment.
Having started the learning process off at school, employers then have a vital part to play by providing induction training and ensuring adequate supervision of young people once they get into the workplace. WHAC would work a bit like the theory test you take when you’re learning to drive – it highlights some of the hazards you’ll face, and the actions you need to take to keep yourself and others free from harm.”
Around 2,000 organisations have already registered to deliver WHAC, which was launched at Barnfield College in Luton with the health and safety minister, Lord McKenzie of Luton.
Lord McKenzie, who is speaking at the seminar, said:
"Health and safety plays a vital role in the government’s health, work and well-being strategy that aims to cut deaths and injuries in the workplace and also improve the health of the working age population. Young people, because of their lack of experience, are more vulnerable to workplace dangers and this is why I am so pleased to see IOSH and the HSE working together to deliver this important and pioneering course.”
Ninety-three MPs across all parties signed up to an Early Day Motion, Protecting Young People in the Workplace, that calls on the government to make WHAC a mandatory part of the curriculum.
Michael Clapham MP, Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Occupational Safety and Health, who sponsored the Early Day Motion and is hosting the seminar, said:
“The large number of deaths and injuries to teenagers in the workplace is an appalling tragedy. This is all preventable. Young people, through their lack of life experience and health and safety training, are particularly vulnerable. Protecting the vulnerable is an essential mark of a civilised society and IOSH’s proposed measures are a practical solution which I strongly support.”
Workplace Hazard Awareness Course
Source: IOSH / GNN
