Working with Young People Code of Practice
Effective from 3 July 2008
Version Number: 2.4
Author: Safety/Fire Safety Officer
Health, Safety & Wellbeing
te
University of Salford
Working with Young People V1.1
Document Control Information
Status and reason for development
Status:
Revised to update previous version
Reason for
development:
This document was developed to ensure compliance with associated legislation and standards,
and University requirements.
Revision History
Date
January 2015
Author
Claire Whittaker
Summary of changes
Document transferred to new template
Definition of children revised to reflect other
University policies.
Document developed
Claire Whittaker
July 2008
Version No.
V1.1
V1.0
Code of Practice Management and Responsibilities
Owner:
Associate Director of Health, Safety & Wellbeing
Others with responsibilities
(please specify):
The owner has delegated responsibility for day to day management of the
Code to the Safety/Fire Safety Officer
All subjects of the Code will be responsible for engaging with and adhering
to this policy.
Assessment
Cross relevant assessments
Cross if not applicable
Equality Analysis
Legal
Information Governance
Academic Governance
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Author:
Consultation
Cross relevant consultations
Staff Trades Unions via HR
Students via USSU
Any relevant external bodies
(please specify)
Consultation of the original policy
took place through the Health and
Safety Committee.
…………………………………..
The Executive
Authorised by:
Date authorised:
Effective from:
2 years from date authorised
Review due:
Document location:
www.salford.ac.uk/hr
www.salford.ac.uk/university/governance/policies-and-procedures
Document dissemination and communications plan
The Safety/Fire Safety Officer will circulate to the Health and Safety Coordinators for the Colleges and Professional
Services to enable promotion throughout their area of responsibility.
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1.0
Working with Young People V1.1
Purpose
This document gives a summary of the general legislation for protecting the health and safety of children
at work and aims to provide practical advice for complying with the law.
2.0
Scope
The main areas of concern are associated with inexperience of work tasks, lack of awareness of the
potential dangers that work may expose, and the child’s mental and physical maturity.
Definition
For the purpose of this document, a child is anyone who has not yet reached 18 years of age.
Within this range, children are prohibited from employment in industry such as factories and construction.
However, this does not apply if they are on work experience schemes that have been approved by the
local education authority.
Children under the age of 13 are generally prohibited from any form of employment.
3.0
Code of Practice Statements
Assessing Risks
Under the Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999 a Manager is required to undertake
a specific risk assessment for any child that they employ and should be undertaken prior to starting work.
This can usually be carried out by modifying existing risk assessment to take account of:
 immaturity, inexperience and lack of awareness of risks
 health and safety training required
 exposure to any chemical, biological or physical agents
 type of equipment, methods of use and activities to be undertaken
 the fitting out and layout of their workstations and workplace
You are then required by the Management Regulations to inform all workers, including young workers,
about risks identified in the assessments and control measures in operation.
A copy of the risk assessment findings and control measures should be given to the placement
supervisor of the child. This information must be provided before employment or work experience
begins.
A sample assessment is included at the end of this document for your guidance.
If, after conducting the risk assessment, you find that significant risks remain, you should transfer the child
to other work.
Induction On the first day that the child commences working in the school/division, the manager must
complete an induction checklist with the child (see attached).
Training
The prohibitions are not applicable to young people who have left school and are doing work necessary
for training, supervised by a competent person, providing risks are reduced so far as is reasonably
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University of Salford
Working with Young People V1.1
practicable and in line with health and safety legislation. Training includes: Government schemes, modern
apprenticeships, in-house training and work qualifying for NVQ assessment.
However, the prohibitions are applicable to childen who are still attending school and are employed or
undergoing work experience training.
Planning and Organisation
A child must not be expected to do any of the following:
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work beyond their physical or psychological capabilities
work involving harmful exposure to radiation
work involving risks to health from noise, vibration or extreme heat/cold
work involving harmful exposure to any agents which can chronically affect health, inclusive of those
with toxic or carcinogenic effects or those that cause genetic damage or harm to an unborn child
Rest Periods:
Children are required to take rest periods of,
Daily rest period of at least 12 consecutive hours in each 24 hour period.
Weekly rest periods of at least 48 hours in a seven day period. The rest period may be interrupted where
activities are split up over the day, or of short duration, but cannot be reduced to less than 36 consecutive
hours.
Breaks must be given where working time is more than four and a half hours. The rest break should be a
minimum of 30 minutes.
4.0
Code of Practice Monitoring and Performance
Application of this policy will be monitored during the health and safety audits
5.0 Related Documentation
Limitations to Bringing Children on Campus www.salford.ac.uk/hr
6.0 Training and Support
Not applicable
7.0 Appendices
Not applicable
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