Health, Safety and Environment

European Week for Safety and Health at Work 2006

The European Week for Safety and Health at Work takes place on the 23 - 27 October 2006.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) will be working in partnership with TUC and other organisations throughout Euroweek this year.

The 2006 European Week for Health and Safety has a "Safe start" young workers theme. Jason Batt, project manager for the UK campaign, commented: "Young people are the future of business, society and the economy, they should be provided with information on sensible health and safety. The event hopes to raise awareness of health and safety matters in the workplace and generate understanding amongst children and young people that risks should be managed rather than eliminated."

For this campaign the HSE is working in partnership with TUC, the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) and the manufacturers' organisation EEF.

Looking out for work hazards - Advice for Young People

It could happen to you

If you have an accident or damage your health at work you may have to live with the consequences for the rest of your life. Something tragic could happen to you, even on your first day at work. Most of these tragedies could be prevented.

As a young person starting work, you may be more at risk than your older colleagues. New to the job and the workplace, you lack experience of the job and of the health and safety risks that can be present. You have the right to safe and healthy work, including the necessary training and supervision and the right to ask questions and report things that look unsafe to you. If you are under 18 years old the law bans you from doing certain hazardous jobs because of your inexperience and possible immaturity.

According to European statistics, the work injury rate for young people aged 18-24 years is 50% higher than for any other age group of workers.

• An 18 year-old apprentice mechanic died 4 days after being engulfed in flames; he was helping his manager empty a mixture of petrol and diesel into a waste tank when the petrol exploded…

And its not just accident risks that could affect you, your health could be damaged too:

• A hairdressing apprentice reacted to the products she had to use; her hands came out in cuts and blisters so that she could not even grip a knife and fork and she had to give up the job…

The causes of such accidents and ill health include unsafe equipment, stressful conditions, fast-paced working, lack of training and supervision and lack of procedures and controls. And for under 18s, you are much more likely to have an accident if you are doing work that is restricted by law.

The Health and Safety Executive EuroWeek web pages: www.hse.gov.uk/campaigns/euroweek/

European Agency for Safety and Health at Work: http://ew2006.osha.europa.eu/