Young Worker Risk Assessment Form

This Young Worker Risk Assessment Form should be used before employing a young worker, or when reviewing an existing risk assessment where young workers are in the workplace.

A young person is someone who is below 18 years of age and above the minimum school leaving age, meaning someone aged 16 or 17.

Risk assessment before employing a young worker

Under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, an employer must not employ a young person unless they have carried out a risk assessment covering risks to the health and safety of young people.

A new risk assessment is not needed every time a young person is employed, provided the current assessment takes account of the characteristics of young people and activities that present significant health and safety risks.

Factors the employer must assess

The employer must take account of:

• the inexperience, lack of risk awareness and immaturity of young persons;
• the fitting-out and layout of the workplace and workstation;
• exposure to physical, biological and chemical agents, including duration and extent of exposure;
• the type of work equipment used and how it is handled;
• how work processes and activities are organised; and
• the extent of health and safety training provided to young persons.

Where applicable, employers must also take account of the risks from physical, biological and chemical agents, processes and work listed in the annex to the Directive on the Protection of Young People at Work.

Work young persons must not be employed to do

The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 require employers to protect young persons from risks arising from their lack of experience, awareness of existing or potential risks, or lack of maturity.

Young persons must not be employed for work that:

• is beyond their physical or psychological capacity;
• involves harmful exposure to toxic or carcinogenic agents, agents causing heritable genetic damage, harm to the unborn child, or any other chronic effect on human health;
• involves harmful exposure to radiation;
• involves accident risks which young persons may not reasonably recognise or avoid due to insufficient attention to safety, lack of experience or lack of training; or
• creates a health risk from extreme cold, heat, noise or vibration.

In deciding whether the work involves any of these risks or harm, the employer must take account of the results of the risk assessment.

Information and controls for young workers

The Health and Safety Executive advises that employers must tell all employees, including young workers, about the risks to their health and safety identified by the assessment.

Employers should also explain the measures put in place to control those risks and the procedures to be followed in the event of serious and imminent danger.

Other regulations affecting young workers

In addition to the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, employers should take account of other relevant regulations.

Working Time Regulations 1998

The Working Time Regulations set particular limits on the hours worked by young workers and the breaks to which they are entitled, including:

• working time limited to eight hours per day and 40 hours per week;
• restrictions on work between 10pm and 6am, or between 11pm and 7am where contracted to work after 10pm;
• a free health assessment before certain night work assignments;
• at least 12 consecutive hours’ rest in each 24-hour period;
• at least 48 hours’ rest in each seven-day period; and
• a rest break of at least 30 minutes where daily working time is more than four-and-a-half hours.

Control of Lead at Work Regulations 2002

These Regulations require employers to ensure that young people’s exposure to lead and its compounds is adequately controlled. The exposure levels specified in the Regulations are lower for young people than for older workers.

Ionising Radiations Regulations 2017

These Regulations require employers to give special consideration to the employment of young people working with ionising radiation.

Young people under the age of 18 cannot be employed to work with ionising radiation where they would need to be designated as a classified person, meaning a person likely to receive an effective dose greater than the limit set under regulation 21 of the Regulations.

When to seek health and safety advice

Small businesses can probably conduct the risk assessment themselves. Larger businesses may want to seek advice from a health and safety expert.

Young Worker Risk Assessment Form is part of Employment. Just £38.50 + VAT provides unlimited downloads from Employment for 1 year.