Building the Future
National Apprenticeship week ran from 7 – 13 February 2022. The theme this year was ‘Build the Future’ and its aim was to celebrate and promote the benefits which apprenticeships offer both learners and employers. It is particularly important for the construction sector where the skills shortage is a growing concern, with many existing workers reaching retirement age and not enough people entering the industry to replace them.
Apprenticeships and work experience schemes are a great way of introducing young people to the work place and a possible future career. But in an industry which has one of the worst work fatality rates National Apprenticeship Week also serves as an important reminder to employers in the construction sector to take appropriate steps to keep young people safe in their new and unfamiliar workplace. According to the HSE workers are as likely to have an accident in the first six months in a workplace as they are during the whole of the rest of their working life.
Training & Supervision
Employers have the same responsibilities for the health, safety and welfare of young people, as they do for other employees. But, as many young people will be facing completely new and unfamiliar risks from both their work activity and new surroundings, clear and sufficient training, instruction and close supervision are of paramount importance. Ensuring that the young person has understood the specific hazards and risks in their new work place will enable an inexperience young person to work and gain valuable experience without putting themselves and those around them at risk.
Risk Assessments
While employers are not required to carry out a separate risk assessment for apprentices or work experience students, if they haven’t employed a young person before they should review their existing risk assessment and take into account the specific factors for young people, before a young person starts with them.
Insurance
Most employers are required by law to insure against liability for injury or disease to their employees, including apprentices. Provided they insurer is a member of ABI or Lloyds the employers liability insurance should also cover work placements. If an employer doesn’t currently require employers’ liability insurance – some family businesses & sole traders – they should consult their insurers before taking on an apprentice or providing a work experience placement. Remember: If in any doubt an employer should check with their insurers.
For more information on how to keep young people safe at work, including a really useful FAQ section go to the Young People at Work section on the HSE website.