Posted By Anthony Edwards Hi There, Can anyone advise me if young persons are prohibited from working at height (whilst painting and decorating), if the work is planned and risk assessed. Many thanks Nutty

Posted By Pete48 Anthony, if you are considering pre-16 work related placements, a general rule of thumb is that their feet should not be more than 18 inches off the ground and then only on prorperly designed and safe kit. And before the vultures swoop to condemn, I do mean a rule of thumb to indicate a point beyond which they should simply be prohibited from going in all circumstances. Use of scaffold and ladders is not allowed. This has more to do with creating a simple rule to understand and supervise than it is about risk assessment per se. I can only offer opinion on post 16 work. There I think it does come down to information, training etc. WAH relies quite heavily on knowledge and responsible behaviour. At that age, it is important that the individual is the centre of the assessment and this is balanced against the organisational and occupational risk when assessing. Thus one youngster of 17 may be quite safe WAH, the next wouldn't due to a different level of maturity and understanding. Hope this helps.

Posted By CFT Nutty You won't be able to define 'young person' per se or not legislatively speaking at any rate. oddly enough (well perhaps not really)there is no longer any conclusive definition (under the law [legislatively]) of a young person. In the past, the terms 'young person' and 'young people' have come to be used fairly generally in everyday speech, to the extent that it almost lacks precise meaning; but with the question in mind, there is no definitive law that states WAH must or shall or will be avoided at such and such a height etcetera etcetera. Under the kiddlies Act 1989 the definition is a child and you simply won't find anything (other than your double entendre of a risk assessment) that will prohibit WAH by a child; taking it one step further however and perception not withstanding, a young person who by the virtue of the Management regulations should have a RA specific to the individual should at the very least be identified as requiring rigorous training for WAH, and when I say WAH, I do mean WAH not standing on a small podium etc; because in the main a child (under 18!) has entirely different perceptions than a seasoned adult; akin it to riding the big wheel or the dipper or similar; I look at the structure and think about the Showmans Guild, how was it erected, have the HSE inspected, and so on.... the 'young person will probably think they are holier than thou and have not the slightest notion that WAH is a potential killer! Bottom line Nutty; nothing to stop you in legislation, but make certain you have that training and control firmly in place; if twere me I may be considering alternatives, but thats just me and the hierarchical principles. Sources of reference: Children and Young Persons Acts of 1933, 1963 and 1969 The Children Act 1989 the Rights of the Child (which came into force in the UK in 1992) The Children Act 2004 WAH regs and associated guidance. Health and safety regulations, define a child as someone who is not over the minimum school leaving age, and a 'young person' as anyone under 18 for the record. CFT