We have a 15 year old student who has contacted us and is keen to gain some experience in a commercial kitchen environment and a head chef who is willing to give 1-1 mentoring.

We have checked with the local council and had it confirmed that we are not allowed to employ the student as is breaches legislation.

We then contacted the local education authority to see if we could go the work experience route, (unpaid, but student still keen). We then find that the student would not be allowed to use the hobs, ovens, knives etc.

Any one have any ideas? Is there any way we can get a keen, responsible, student some worthwhile experience or do they just have to wait until they are older?

Hi Gordon
The HSE have guidance on work experience, it will be possible if you can carry out the necessary assessment of risk and also offer the supervision.
Here is a link - http://www.hse.gov.uk/yo...experience/organiser.htm

Ian Bell - the risks in fast paced commercial kitchens are boiling water, hot work equipment, sharps (yes Chefs even when experienced and trained get nasty lacerations), slips (see the HSE shattered lives clip on commercial kitchens). There is also the lack of experience of some 15 year olds and the possibility of them still developing physically.

Ian
PS I started in my first service engineering job at 15!

While the comments above regarding RA are true, there may be council bye-laws which can differ between different areas which may prohibit certain work activities for minors. It may be worth finding out the reason for the restriction.

Formal work experience does, in law, allow the relaxation of the normal rules on child employment but only where the local authority or governing body of the school arrange the work experience. This relaxation of rules is contained in section 560 of the Education Act 1996.

The school (unless independent or an academy) has some legal responsibility and powers to not let the student attend where they consider the work prejudices the child’s health or makes the child unfit to obtain the full benefit of his or her education.

There is plenty of experience, which schools use as a reference, of what employers usually determine in their risk assessments. The use of knives by a child is a commonly found area of risk control and most if not all say no use of sharp knives, slicers etc. In my experience most catering employers will not allow children on the hot side of the kitchen during service both for personal OSH and food safety reasons. Where a student has a genuine interest and the chef is prepared to do some one on one training, outside of service, then areas such as the safe use of knives, food preparation (that will not be used for consumption by customers) are sometimes allowed.

So, it should be possible, with a good communication between you and the school, to arrange a useful experience. I would suggest that you will need to be certain that the kitchen staff can provide adequate supervision throughout the experience; that will be paramount.

hth
P48

“Children (under the statutory school-leaving age) MUST NOT be allowed to use, handle or clean knives.” BMPA Guidnace

"involving a risk which cannot be recognised or avoided by young persons because of their lack of attention to safety or lack of experience or training; this is likely to mean that any employment involving the use of sharp knives or slicers will be prohibited. DfEGuidance

BMPA is an industry body for meat processing.

Point of my post is to show that it is employers who have defined what is required in controlling the risks. The DfE guidance says 'likely' because it recognises that fact NOT because it is banning anything.

As to employment outside of work experience it is simply prohibited by bye laws which have existed since long before 'creeping OSH syndrome' became a fashionable target.

The example was given to illustrate the issue of use of knives not as a comparison.

The myth of 'creeping OSH syndrome'or the 'monster of OSH' is also just that. Laws regarding the employment of children have a much longer history than modern times. The current model bye laws and significant law are predominantly based on an Act from 1933 with, of course, subsequent amendments and additions such as those after the adoption of the EC directive 94/33/EC during the 1990's.

So there have always been differences of opinion about what protection must be provided and that opinion change and develops over time.

Age has always been one of the key factors set in law around a number of areas of safeguarding of children and so it will draw a line at some point. Take alcohol for example. A child can drink alcohol at home but cannot do so in a public house. Molly coddling? Maybe but the basis of the law accepts that at the prescribed age most children or young people should be adequately developed to assimilate training and act safely. But as we know from today's requirements for risk assessments for young people we cannot assume that they will all be at a level.

Finally if you read my post you will see that I have supported the attempt to make this experience work for the child. Just needs a little thought and adequate supervision.