Posted By PETER GANNAWAY During a recent training session on General Risk Assessments, I was asked what the Health & Safety Risk Assessment implications were for newspaper delivery staff. As employed staff I considered that an Assessment of their activities would be required. Also being children, I believed that the findings should be communicated to the parents. In reality I seriously doubt if much effort is actually put into the H&S of children on paper rounds. Can anyone tell me if there is any guidance in this area, and whether successful prosecutions have ever been made against Newsagents for failing to operate a safe system of work.

Posted By Neil Budworth There has recently been some research in this area, conducted by John Tomlinson of Derby City Council, looking at the whole system of safety and paper boys/ girls. An article has been published in this months Environmental Health Journal (Email me on budworth-n@nsk.com with your fax number or address and I'll send it over) Broadly it confirms that whilst some newsagents understand the regulations and take actions most do not. Best Regards Neil

Posted By Ken Urquhart Peter, There used to be a system through the employment service, (Careers Depts of local authorities/education authorities) which addressd a Permission Form for young pople to be paper boys/girls. It also had an age verification and a Parental consent. However under current local authority procedures I don't know what rules/arrangements might still be in place. Have you considered tackling the question another way. What about approaching the Newspapers themselves. They want there Newspapers delivered to the customers. I am sure that they would not wish to be associated with endangering the Health & Safety of Young people delivering there papers. Imagine the headlines. Newspapers used to provide Newspaper Boy/Girl satchels to carry the papers in.These not only had adverts on them but were made of a High Viz Dayglo type fabric with Retro - reflective Scotchlite type material on them. I am sure the paper companies could be encouraged to sponsor High Viz Tabards or waistcoats as well. Also if the young people used there own bicycles they could be provided with lights and replacement batteries. A personal Alarm device would also be of use and you could enclose that in your sponsorship for safety request. Also liaise with your local police and crime Prevention dept., for advice. These are just some ideas, it is a long time since I was a paperboy, but hope these suggestions are of some help. Seasons Greetings. Regards. Ken Urquhart

Posted By Jay Joshi Try The National Federation of Retail Newsagents, Yeoman House, Sekforde Street, London EC1R OHS, Tel: 0171 253 4225 "DELIVERING SAFETY" Available to members of the NFRN or The Newspaper Society, Bloomsbury House, 74-77 Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DA, Tel: 0171 636 7014 "THE SAFE DELIVERY GUIDE: AN A TO Z OF HELPFUL HINTS" available to members of The Newspaper Society