Page 86 - IGC BOOK

Special Case Application of Risk Assessment

Young Persons

A young person is anyone under 18 years of age.

Employer must take into accounts the characteristics of
young people and activities, which present significant
risks to their health and safety.

You need to consider the following when carrying out risk assessment for young person:

• Is the task beyond their physical or psychological capacity.
• Involves exposure to harmful substances that are toxic, carcinogenic or cause any chronic ill
health effects.
• involves harmful exposure to radiation
• involves risk of accidents that cannot reasonably be recognised or avoided
• by young people due to their insufficient attention to safety or lack of
experience or training.
• has a risk to health from extreme cold, heat, noise or vibration.

Factors why young person at work are more vulnerable

Generally, young people are not aware of risks in the workplace

• inexperienced and immature
• poor risk perception.
• easily influenced by peer pressure.
• they are excited and willing to work and take risks even though if they are not familiar with
the tasks.
• lack of communication skills.

Hence, consider the above factors when carrying out the risk assessment, therefore

• Provide induction training to the young worker.
• Restrict young worker from high risk activities (e.g machinery operation, manual handling
etc.)
• Restrict hours of work (no overtime and no shifts).
• Provide thorough training to make them competent to a level where they can work without
putting themselves and others at risk.
• Provide more supervision to ensure that training is fully understood and followed.
• Conduct regular health surveillance.

POSHE V2| Unit IG1 – Element 3 – Managing Risks – Understanding People and Processes 41