Please find below a recent Myth Busters Challenge Panel Case sent out by the Health and Safety Executive. I would like to understand the opinions of other Health and Safety Professionals on the text below 'are we merely playing with words and not considering the consequence' Case 260 - Separate 'Young persons risk assessment' required for work experience placements Issue Enquirer has been told that all work experience placements should provide the school with a ‘Young Persons Risk Assessment’ detailing the processes they have in place to mitigate risk to young people. Panel decision The advice provided by the health and safety consultant is incorrect but the panel recognise that this is a commonly held view. HSE has recently issued new guidance which makes it clear what is required and explains how to take a proportionate approach. There is no requirement for an employer to complete a separate risk assessment specifically for a young person. Employers are required to manage risks in their workplaces and organisers of placements should not be second-guessing this or adding unnecessary bureaucracy. The organisers should simply ask sensible questions to satisfy themselves that arrangements are in place, and ensure that the employer knows of any specific issues for the student. Please refer to HSE’s guidance for more details.- http:www.hse.gsi.gov.uk/youngpeople/workexperience/organiser.htm http://www.hse.gov.uk/my...myths&cr=13-Mar-2014

The guidance says what we already do when we have work experience people coming to work at our place. The person who will be dealing the young person looks at the existing risk assessment and decides whether they need to add anything extra to it, taking into account the young person’s particular set of circumstances. So we don't do a 'young person's risk assessment' but we don't just assume that the existing risk assessments are sufficient.

IMHO a "Young Persons Risk Assessment" is as individual and separate as the Young Person, the environment in which they are placed and the tasks to which they are set. Taking the combination of regulations with specific provisions or mention for Young Persons in relation to my current work place: powered machinery, manual handling, shift work, chemicals, radiation, availability (or otherwise) of close one on one supervision etc.. you end up with a significant list that becomes further complicated when considering the individuals physical and psychological parameters. Certainly brings swift conclusion to placement enquiries from local schools....

The 'revised' HSE guidance is actually not that different from its previous guidance if you delve deep enough into it. It is often easier to do a separate RA but I also take A Kurdziel's point that if the current RA is properly reviewed and amended to include the risks and additional controls for the young person then this is perfectly fine and is the most efficient way of doing it. This is the way I will be going in future. Slight warning though - I have seen some current RAs which simply tag on something like "extra supervision will be provided" and in the vast majority of situations this would not be adequate.

The simple fact is that in practice many employers who support short term work experience for young persons (commonly referred to as 14-19 group by education sector) do not normally employ young people of that age bracket. Thus they will not have specifically considered the risks to this group or indeed those arising to employees and others from the presence of a youngster. They obviously need to review their arrangements for risk controls as part of agreeing to the young person attending their undertaking. The outcome may be no changes are required but equally may be identification of additional controls to keep the youngsters safe. Once done it can be used for future placements subject to the usual review standards for risk assessments. Some form of individual induction would be required each time just as for any new employee. That might identify some specific controls (e.g. a PEP (personal evac plan) for those with special needs) but no need for a 'young persons risk assessment each time. Clearly schools have a duty of care to their students and thus need to check that such reviews etc have been performed and that not only schools know the arrangements but also parents/carers can agree to their youngster going on work experience with knowledge that a review has been undertaken. However, over the years teams of often quite highly skilled and experienced people have been working with employers to help this process. This might include input to the young persons risk review/assessment that the employer produces; not to approve it but to input knowledge learnt from other employers for example. Support not enforcement! However, like all systems some areas of this simple partnership process have mutated into an over cautious, micro management process where employers are not only subjected to a paper heavy 'contractor assessment' style of check but also receive little help or guidance. I think that is the issue that the HSE and DfE were attempting to unravel. Sadly as is becoming all too common with this government this is another unhelpful intervention which has obviously caused a deal more confusion. For example, the HSE and DfE guidance which was first issued last October only refers to post-16 work experience and has totally overlooked the fact that pre-16 students still go on work experience! Pre-16 of course being legally defined as children rather than young persons. Hope this help to give a bit more background to the HSE guidance referenced and how I have interpreted it in practice. p48