I am confused as to whether there is a prohibition on young persons (U18) using meat slicers such as found in deli shops for slicing bacon etc. The Health and Safety (Young Persons) Regulations 1997 appear to suggest that this is down to RA but somebody else is suggesting that they are not allowed to use such machinery. Can somebody please clarify, quoting the specific legislation if there is inded a ban. Thanks in advance. S4B

Stuff Is it that you are thinking of the past ? • s.20 of the Factories Act 1961, which prohibits young people from cleaning machinery when it is moving or where there is a risk from adjacent machinery • s.21 of the Factories Act 1961 and the Dangerous Machines (Training of Young Persons) Order 1954, which prohibit work at prescribed machines unless there is full training and supervision. Guillotines and hand fed platens were included in the prescribed machinery. Any activities carried out by YPs is now down to RA Information Instruction Training and Supervision and being within Physical and Mental ability

There is no general prohibition on use of meat slicers. Risk assessed approach is adequate. Points of clarification. For H&S, a child is one who is below minimum school leaving age (16). A young person is one between attaining MSL and 18 years of age. The employment of children is controlled by your local authority and they will have info such as the link below. This will cover all restrictions that apply in your area. http://www.somerset.gov....yers%20and%20parents.pdf Children who go on work experience are still treated as children but some of the restrictions on employment are relaxed. Working hours for example and being able to "work" in places like a motor vehicle repair shop. They are not subject to the local authority control/permits but are managed by the school and the school placement services. Specific risk assessments are agree with employers to cover work experience students. Generally children, whether on work experience or directly employed under local authority permit, do not use meat slicers etc as outlined in the GIS that is referenced by a previous poster. Young people can use such kit subject to the usual TIIS and SOW stuff. Often employers will not allow it as a default position as the "safest" option; this is especially so where they are casual "Saturday" staff. HTH p48

I would contend however that any assessment for such people to use these slicers would not truly be complete without some scheme of training and supervision being in place. We cannot simply replace all safeguards by a blanket risk assessment. Each assessment will need to be unique for each individual. Bob

It would also include current age, previous training, attitudes, behaviours, available supervision, training/competence attainment. Bob