Children in the Workplace
|
You are receiving this newsletter because we received a subscription request in your name. Should you no longer wish to receive it or if you have been subscribed in error you can unsubscribe by following the instructions at the end of the newsletter.
|
IN THIS ISSUE |
|
WELCOME |
Sometimes, with the best will in the world, we can think that we are providing benefits for other people whilst in fact we creating difficulties for ourselves and others.
This month I’ve been thinking about the drive for companies to make more provision for a right work-life balance for their employees.
In principle, this is a good move that can remove some of the burden associated with regular employment, particularly for those with other responsibilities such as young families or carers. It can also reduce the likelihood of occupational stress and can improve productivity.
However, just like any other change in the workplace, changes associated with work-life balance need to be subject to risk assessment.
This whole line of thought arose because of a tragic accident that occurred recently when a mother took her child to her place of work and an accident occurred that resulted in the death of the child. The risk to children may never have been appreciated without a risk assessment to consider the full implications of having children on the premises.
This is the reason why consideration of health and safety must be an integral part of every decision making process in business. If you don’t have your own trained assessors, then it is vital that you are able to call on professional advice.
David Skews, (CEO)
Back to top |
|
CHILDREN IN THE WORKPLACE |
With the current move to improve work life balance, one of the issues that comes up from time to time is whether or not employees should be allowed to bring young children into the workplace.
Without doubt, it can be convenient for parents to be allowed to do so, especially when there are problems with childcare arrangements or perhaps it is “just a fleeting visit”.
Additional Risks
However, every employer needs to be aware that young children on the premises can introduce additional hazards and risks that would not otherwise need to be considered. If an organisation is to adopt a “family friendly” policy that includes allowing young children on the premises, then it is vital to undertake a full risk assessment to ensure the additional risks are being adequately managed.
It is important to consider the issue from at least two distinct angles, namely:
- Risks to which the children might be exposed as a result of their lack of appreciation of risks in general and lack of experience of the workplace in particular.
- Risks to employees and possibly other users of the premises as a result of children being present.
In the former case, it is important to review every aspect that might have already been considered in other risk assessments. The reason is that safety arrangements that are perfectly satisfactory for adults may prove not to be as safe for young children.
Example Scenarios
By way of example, we have found situations where safety barriers have been erected to prevent falls from height. These were perfectly satisfactory for adults but the distance between the horizontal rails was sufficient for a small child to squeeze through with relative ease. This fact, coupled with the natural inclination of young children to be curious and adventurous, meant that the barriers were inadequate to ensure the safety of children on the site.
A particularly tragic case occurred recently when a young child managed to squeeze through a 9 inch gap behind a glass screen and then fell, with fatal consequences. The case is still the subject of investigation but you can read the story as reported by the Times Newspaper. From the report, it appears to be a situation that would have been a zero risk to an adult but proved to be fatal for a young child.
Risks to Employees
It is also important to consider the risks to which employees may be exposed as a result of having children on site. Once again, natural curiosity can create problems if a child wants to find out by experimentation what happens if they press a button or pull on a lever that happens to be within their reach.
The youthful exuberance of young children can also present risks if they are permitted to run around or possibly leave toys on the floor. We need to appreciate that there is no guarantee that children will comply with housekeeping rules and conduct, even assuming they are able to read the notices or understand verbal instructions.
There are many workplaces that specifically cater for young children and are perfectly safe, such as nurseries, playgrounds, shops and the like. It is not our intention to discourage other organisations from adopting family friendly policies, but where they are introduced, it is essential that all the consequences are properly assessed and appropriate precautions put in place.
As Health and Safety Consultants, we are able to offer you a comprehensive Health and Safety Management service or, if you already have a comprehensive systems in place, we can provide the specialist services for which you may not have the trained staff in house.
See edpFRAMEWORK for a broader perspective on Managing Health & Safety
Back to top |
CASE LAW |
Continuing the theme of those workplaces and work activities that attract youngsters, a case recently came to court in which a 14 year old schoolboy was killed when the Quad Bike (or ATV – All Terrain Vehicle) he was riding overturned.
The boy was working part time at a pheasant shoot organised by a company in Shropshire, where he was responsible for distributing bird food. That’s the type of job a schoolboy might dream about without ever considering the significant risks associated with the work.
The company was fined £35,000, with a further £25,000 costs, on a number of counts, including failing to carry out an appropriate risk assessment.
In the experience of the HSE, there have been numerous serious and fatal accidents associated with the use of ATVs. Their recommendations include:
- Conducting an appropriate risk assessment
- Ensuring drivers are properly trained and are capable of controlling the vehicle at all times
- Ensuring tasks that are allocated to drivers are within their capabilities and that they are under proper supervision.
Back to top |
LEGAL MONITOR |
This month we have to report that there have been a couple of significant delays introduced for legislation that, until recently, was expected to be introduced in April 2006.
- The first is the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order, which has been delayed to allow businesses and fire safety experts more time to prepare for the changes. The anticipated date of introduction is now October 2006
- The second is the Revision of Construction (Design and Management) (CDM) and Construction (Health, Safety and Welfare) (CHSW) Regulations. Consultation on the proposed changes closed in July 2005 and it was expected that changes would be introduced in April 2006. However, it appears that there has been a delay and introduction is not now expected before April 2007.
View anticipated Changes to Health & Safety Law. Then decide how you might be affected and if you need to make changes in preparation.
Back to top |
SUBSCRIBE/UNSUBSCRIBE & DISCLAIMER |
In spite of the high quality of information we strive to publish, there is always the possibility of error creeping in. Consequently, we have to refer you to our Terms of Use, which you can read on our website and to which you implicitly agree should you choose to make use of any information in this newsletter.
Please forward this mail to colleagues and associates who may be interested, but please do not make any changes.
Feedback is always welcome, so if you have any observations about the newsletter, the articles or your personal preferences, please drop us an e-mail at newsletter_registration@edp-uk.com.
If you have received this newsletter from a colleague and would like to receive a copy directly, you can register at our website
Alternatively, you can easily subscribe, unsubscribe or change your e-mail address by sending your name and e-mail details to
subscribe@edp-uk.com
David Skews, (CEO)
|
EDP Health Safety & Environment Consultants Ltd
Lakeside, Alexandra Park, Prescot Road, St. Helens, Merseyside, UK
Telephone: +44(0)1744 766000
Back to top |
|
