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Environmental health
Health and safety at work
The Health and safety at work service aims to ensure that employees and the public are not put at risk by hazards at the workplace.
We do this by :
- Carrying out a programme of inspection of those premises which we are the enforcing authority. These premises are retail shops, warehouses, offices catering establishments, residential accommodation etc. The premises are inspected in a planned way on the basis of a risk assessment.
- Investigating accidents.
- Investigating complaints.
- Giving advice to employers and employees.
For more information, please contact Environmental Support.
- Health and Safety Service Plan 2006-07 (.PDF 75kb)
This page contains information about :
- Workplace asbestos
- HSE Workplace Health (was Workplace Health Connect)
- Advice for young people - Health & Safety at work
- Child employment
Workplace asbestos
Under the Asbestos at Work Regulations we have to be advised of asbestos removal within workplaces. Please contact us using the e-mail above.
HSE Workplace Health (was Workplace Health Connect)
HSE Workplace Health, a free advisory service on workplace health for small and medium-sized businesses, was launched in February 2006.
The new confidential service offers cost-effective and simple solutions to help cut workplace injuries and ill health. Its aim is to provide free, impartial and practical advice on workplace health and safety, working with both managers and staff to transfer knowledge and skills direct to companies so they can tackle future issues themselves.
See their website at : www.hse.gov.uk/workplacehealth
Advice for young people - Health & Safety at work
Most young people cannot wait to get their first job, be it a paper round, shop work or dog walking. But some young people may be unaware of the hazards the workplace may hold.
In 2003/4 12 workers aged 26-24 were killed at work and 4,389 suffered major injuries.
Across Europe, 18 to 24-year-olds are at least 50% more likely to be injured in the workplace than more experienced workers. Behind the statistics are harrowing stories, of young people having to live with the consequences of accidents and damaged health for the rest of their lives, or dying when they had so much of their lives ahead of them.
One young person is killed every month in a workplace accident and thousands more are injured, according to a new study by the Trade Union Congress (TUC). You can read the article and find out more at the TUC website 2young2die (www.hazards.org/2young2die).
What are Adur doing to tackle the problem?
In Adur, Health & Safety Officers employed by the Council visit workplaces to pass on advice about health & safety law and to check compliance. The welfare of young people is always on the agenda where applicable.
The Education Welfare Officer enforces Child Employment Law. He checks that young people aged between 13-16 do not carry out work activities they are not permitted to do and checks that the young persons school work is not adversely affected by their job.
Information about child employment is available below .
The hazards young people may face at work
Some young people may be at risk because their employers fail to take account of their lack of workplace experience. They may be at particular risk because of :
- their lack of awareness
- be unfamiliar with their surroundings
- be physically or psychologically less suited to certain tasks
- their lack of skills and training
Safe Start - European Health & Safety Week
This year's European Health and Safety Week ran from 23-27 October 2006. This year’s campaign slogan was ‘Safe Start’ and is dedicated to the occupational safety and health of young people. The purpose of the campaign was to raise awareness on occupational safety and health of young people.
Visit the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) website for further details (www.hse.gov.uk/campaigns/euroweek/index.htm). The website contains helpful information for young people, employers, parents and supervisors of young people.
The Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) also ran a national competition, 'SpeakUp', for 14-19 year olds. Individuals or teams of up to four people were invited to design an advertising campaign that tells teenagers how and why they should speak up at work if they don’t feel safe. You can find out more about their campaign and the competition results by visiting the wise up to work website (www.wiseup2work.co.uk)
Contact the team
For more information on Health & Safety contact the Health & Safety Team.
Child employment
See our : Child employment leaflet (.PDF 202kb)
The Children and Young Persons Act 1933 (as amended 2000) says that :
- a young person must be at least 13 years old to work.
- no school-age young person can start work before 7am or finish after 7pm (even in school holidays).
- they may not undertake certain types of work - for safety reasons.
- children aged 15 and over may work for longer hours on Saturdays and school holidays.
- no school-age young person may work more than 12 hours per week in term time.
- he / she must have an employment card to work.
Frequently asked questions
What jobs can a 13 year old do?
A child aged 13 may only be employed in the following occupations :
- light agricultural or horticultural work, including gardening, but not involving the use of machinery (including lawnmowers etc).
- the delivery of newspapers, journals and other printed material.
- shop work, including shelf stacking.
- work in Hairdressing Salons.
- office work.
- car washing by hand in a private residential setting.
- work in a café or restaurant such as waiting at table, washing up etc (not work in the kitchen).
- light work in Riding Stables.
- domestic work in hotels and other establishments offering accommodation.
What jobs can a 14+ year old do?
When a young person is 14 he/she may undertake light duties provided the type of work does not appear on the prohibited employment list.
What jobs can't children do?
Until a young person reaches compulsory school leaving age (last Friday in June of year 11) he/she may not undertake the following work :
- work in a cinema, theatre, discotheque, dance hall or night club, except in connection with a performance given entirely by children;
- selling or delivering alcohol, except in sealed containers;
- delivering milk;
- delivering fuel oils;
- work in a commercial kitchen;
- collecting or sorting refuse;
- any work which is more than 3 metres above ground level, or in the case of internal work, more than 3 metres above floor level;
- employment involving harmful exposure to physical, biological or chemical agents;
- collecting money, selling or canvassing door to door, except under the supervision of an adult;
- work involving exposure to adult material or in situations which are for this reason unsuitable for children;
- in telephone sales;
- in any slaughterhouse or in that part of any butcher's shop or other premises connected with the killing of livestock, butchery, or the preparation of carcasses or meat for sale;
- as an attendant or assistant in a fairground or amusement arcade or in a any other premises used for the purpose of public amusement by means of automatic machines, games of chance or skill or similar devices;
- in a billiard or bingo hall or other place licensed for games or in any registered club;
- in the personal care or residents of any residential care home or nursing home unless under the supervision of a responsible adult;
- in any or in connection with any racecourse or track or other place where any such sport is carried on.
How do I get employment cards for the children I employ?
It is the employers responsibility to ensure all child employees are registered with their local education authority, for more information please contact the Health & Safety Team, Environmental Support (see contact details above).
You can also find out about work permits for children on the West Sussex County Council website (www.westsussex.gov.uk/redirect/?oid=[com.arsdigita.cms.contenttypes.ArticleSection:{id=2383769}]) (also information about 'Chaperone Licences' and 'Theatre Licensing & TV Work').
Does anyone check that children are legally employed?
Yes! The child employment officer makes regular spot checks on employers thought to be employing school-age children. The illegal employment of school children can result in legal action and a £1,000 fine.
