Posted By Laurie A colleague helps run a local youth club, and wishes to allow members to work in the kitchen - tea, coffee sticky buns etc., nothing exotic. She has been told that there is specific Health & Safety legislation which requires a permit to be issued. We have discounted Dangerous Machines, Employment of Schoolchildren, Environmental Health (they all have REHIS anyway) and any local ordinance and she is aware of risk assessment and informing the parents, but she is adamant that it is specific Health & Safety legislation she has been warned about, and that it only applies to catering. I have spoken to very experienced managers in the Leisure & Hospitality sector, and they are as mystified as I am. Does anyone know of any such obscure requirement, and where it may be found? Remember, we are talking national (UK) and not LA Laurie

Posted By Laurie Francis Thanks for the response. All of the points you suggest have been discounted. This is not EH and all those concerned have REHIS anyway. Manual handling etc apply to everybody and every task, not just under 16s in catering. These would be the subject of risk assessment in the normal way - my colleague has specifically been referred to a permit issued under Health & Safety (not food hygiene) Regulations Laurie

Posted By Ken Taylor The latest HSE publication on young people at work is HSG165. If your situation isn't in there, I doubt if the alleged prohibition exists in H&S law.

Posted By Laurie Thanks everybody. I think we can now put this one to bed! A classic case of those people who think they know something about health and safety confusing those of us who actually do know soemthing about health and safety! Laurie