Young workers taking part in work based learning
Sometimes a student who is considered a young worker according to the law must take part in work based learning as a part of his/her education. When sending young persons on work based learning it is important to remember that statistically young workers face a greater risk of accident and ill health than older workers, for a range of reasons including inexperience, lack of training, and lack of physical and mental maturity.
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While occupational safety and health are the subjects of common legislation throughout the EU, education and training remain primarily the responsibility of individual Member States. That means that the law can vary between countries.
General rules for students below 18 years of age
As a general rule students below 18 years of age are not allowed to carry out work which:
- exceeds their physical or mental capacities; - exposes them to substances which are toxic or cause cancer; - exposes them to radiation; - involves extreme heat, noise or vibration; - involves risks that they are unlikely to recognize or avoid because of their lack of experience or training or their insufficient attention to safety. |
Exceptions to this general rule can be made for young people who are over the minimum school leaving age, where work is essential for their vocational training, where they are properly supervised by a competent person, and where the risks are reduced to the lowest level possible.
Responsibilities of the mentoring teacher, employer and work mentors when hosting students below 18 years of age
It might feel challenging to host a student below 18 years of age and some employers are reluctant to provide students below 18 years of age with work based learning opportunities in their company. However students below 18 years of age need to do work based learning in order to receive their vocational qualifications. This is why we encourage employers to also provide young students with an opportunity to do work based learning in their country. Below you can learn more about what you as a teacher, employer and a work mentor for student below 18 years of age need to take into consideration when providing students with learning experiences during work based learning
Responsibilities of the mentoring teacher
Before you send a student below 18 years of age there are a few questions that we recommend you to ask the employer regarding their health and safety management. Theses questions are:
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Responsibilities of the Employer
As an employer you must make proper arrangements for supervising young people doing their work based learning in your company. You must identify and be aware of the risks students below 18 years of age might face in your company. As an employer you should inform your employer who acts as a work mentor about the risks and control measures connected with the work of young people, any restrictions on the tasks young people can do and supervision levels needed, including which work operations need constant supervision.
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Responsibilities of the work mentor
As a work mentor, you have an important role to play in ensuring the health and safety of young people. As the work mentor your responsibilities are to:
- ensure that safe work practices are implemented - explaining the importance safe work practices - setting a good example by beeing a positive rolemodel - help to promote a positive safety culture and - rewarding safe behaviour As a work mentor you also have an important task to encourage them to participate, to ask questions about risks and precautions od the job and to report any hazards they observe |
The rights and obligations for students below 18
The rights
As a student below 18 years of age you have the right to ask questions, raise concerns and refuse to do work that is not safe. If you have a problem, the most important thing is to tell someone. Talk to your work mentor, your employer/supervisor and your mentoring teacher if you have concerns about health and safety. Don't be afraid to ask questions, it is always better to ask than be sorry. Find out who to contact if you feel that your health and safety is at risk. You have the right to receive mentoring and instructions on how to use equipment.
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The obligations
As a student you have the right to have a work mentor that introduces you to the work tasks and informs you about health and safety regulations. You have the right to experience a safe learning environment where you are encouraged to ask questions and to report hazards that you observe. You have the right (and an obligation) use and/or wear protective devices and to receive guidance in how to use the protective devices. As a student you also have the right to have a mentoring teacher that is regularly in contact with you and that supports and guides you during your work based learning experience
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COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 94/33/EC on the protection of young people at work
Young people and safety and health at work (European Agency for Safety at and Health at Work
Young workers — Facts and figures: Exposure to risks and health effects
Good practice in preventing risks to young workers — Summary of a report (1)
Young worker safety – advice for supervisors
Your rights to safe and healthy work - advice for young people
Protection for young people in the workplace
Looking out for work hazards – advice for young people
Work Experience Schemes: advice for educators on health and safety
Young worker safety – advice for parents
Young people and safety and health at work (European Agency for Safety at and Health at Work
Young workers — Facts and figures: Exposure to risks and health effects
Good practice in preventing risks to young workers — Summary of a report (1)
Young worker safety – advice for supervisors
Your rights to safe and healthy work - advice for young people
Protection for young people in the workplace
Looking out for work hazards – advice for young people
Work Experience Schemes: advice for educators on health and safety
Young worker safety – advice for parents