Young Workers

For more information on Young Workers click here for the relevant chapter of the TUC guide to health and safety "Hazards at Work

Work injuries are bad enough, but when they happen early in someone’s life the repercussions take on an even greater tragedy. Young workers’ may have to carry the results of an injury with them for the rest of their lives.

According to the TUC Worksmart a young worker is defined as having compulsory school leaving age but is under 18 years old. Young workers are entitled to more generous rest periods and breaks than other workers, they are not typically allowed to work at night, are barred from certain hazardous jobs and cannot work as long hours as other workers.

The law recognises young workers may be at particular risk at work because of their possible physical and psychological immaturity and lack of awareness of work risks and training.

HSE figures show that in 2000 six under-19s lost their lives carrying out work activities, 1,551 sustained major injuries and a further 5,310 youngsters were off work for over three days as a result of a work-related illness or injury. In particular, young workers are more at risk than any other age group of developing Repetitive strain injury (RSI).

Links

Hazards Young Workers pages

Young Workers - A Safety Representatives Guide

Young worker safety and health

TUC Worksmart Faqs and resources on young workers

ROSPA Managing the health & safety of young workers

California resource Network for young workers' health and safety


The most recent documents available on this subject are:

Apprentice abuses must end, says UCATT

The government must take urgent action to stop safety and other abuses of apprenticeship schemes, the construction union UCATT has said.

PDF version available for download
20 April 2012
Risks stacked against new workers

Workers are as likely to suffer a reportable injury in the first six months at a workplace as during the whole of the rest of their working life, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has warned.

PDF version available for download
10 June 2011
TUC and unions lend their support to Newcastle North MP's Bill

As cuts to public spending come thick and fast, the Northern and national TUC and local unions are happy to support the 'Small Change, Big Difference' Ten Minute Rule Bill, which aims to increase the number of private sector work-based apprenticeship...

14 September 2010
Don't let your first job be your last, TUC warns young summer workers

As four million under 25 year olds go to work this summer and over 250,000 start their first job, the TUC is today (Wednesday) warning them to make sure they don't become one of the 16-24 year olds seriously injured at work every 40 minutes in the UK...

9 August 2006
Don't let your first job be your last, Wales TUC warns young summer workers

As four million under 25 year olds go to work this summer and over 250,000 start their first job, the Wales TUC is today (Wednesday) warning them to make sure they don't become one of the 16-24 year olds seriously injured at work every 40 minutes in ...

9 August 2006
RSI: new technology poses new risks to new workers

Young workers are more at risk from repetitive strain injury than their older workmates, says the TUC today (Wednesday) as it releases new figures and warns businesses that failure to act against the looming RSI epidemic could devastate the British e...

28 February 2001


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