Do employers have specific duties concerning young people's safety at work?
Besides their duties to all employees, employers have a legal duty to:
Besides their duties to all employees, employers have a legal duty to:
The HSE tells employers: " A risk assessment is simply a careful examination of what, in your work, could cause harm to people, so that you can weigh up whether you have taken enough precautions or should do more to prevent harm. Workers and others have a right to be protected from harm caused by a failure to take reasonable control measures. "
Workers also have rights to be consulted and fully involved in the process.
There are many freely available sources of help. See www.hse.gov.uk/workers/employers.htm
Most small community groups engage mostly in fairly low risk activities e.g. running a charity shop or small office, and there is useful advice readily available which is easily followed: see www.hse.gov.uk/voluntary/index.htm.
Sensible measures that involve anticipating what could happen then making things safer need not be problematic, nor involve cancelling activities by citing "health and safety" as an excuse.
Governing body
Employers have a duty of care to all staff and members of the public affected by the work, including volunteers.
Employers can be found negligent if what they do, or fail to do, causes an accident to a volunteer.
For any organisation which employs at least one member of staff, the Health & Safety at Work Act and Regulations made under it will apply.
Employers are responsible for ensuring the health, safety and welfare of employees, as well that of members of the public affected by the work.