The TUC and the CBI have joined forces to launch a new safety video aimed particularly at young people in the workplace.
'The Safety Bit: Health and safety for new starters' encourages young people to consider safety an important issue by asking for help if they're asked to do something for which they haven't been trained, and to make sure that they have protective equipment to hand before they start anything potentially risky.
The TUC says that young people starting out at work may consider safety training boring, but may also lack the confidence to question methods of working which may put them at risk of accident or injury. TUC General Secretary John Monks says: "It's crucial for young workers to be tuned into all the potential hazards at work all of the time. Safety training may seem mega boring, but quite simply it could save your life, and the lives of your workmates. If you're being asked to do something you don't feel you've been trained to do, ask for help. Your boss could be breaking the law by not providing you with adequate training."
The 17-minute video follows the launch of a safety pack for young workers earlier this year, which was distributed to schools and colleges in the UK. 'Play safe at work' includes checklists on working with machinery, moving stuff around, RSI, bullying, noise, and slips and trips, and is available by telephoning 0870 600 4882. 'The Safety Bit' costs £450 to buy, £95 to hire for two days or £145 to hire for five days from safety video provider Out-takes (tel. 0208 289 2466).
Back in April the TUC highlighted a series of cases where lack of supervision or training had resulted in young people sustaining serious injuries. Research showed that over a third of workers aged 15-24 had never had any health and safety training.
