Young Wrexham

Health & Safety

There are laws and regulations that protect your health and safety while you are at work. All employers have a statutory duty to take care of the health and safety of all their employees.

For example there are rules covering:

• Cleanliness
• Noise
• Machinery
• Lifting and carrying heavy weights
• Hazardous substances
• Toilets
• Washing facilities
• Drinking water
• Seating
• First aid facilities
• Temperatures
• Computers
• Hours and rests

Nearly all workers have the right not to have to work for more than 48 hours on average, a week:

• Night workers cannot work an average of more than eight hours in each 24 hour period
• Workers aged 18 and over (adult workers) are entitled to one day off each week
• Workers aged 16-18 (adolescent workers) are entitled to two days off each week
• Adult workers are entitled to eleven hours consecutive rest per day, and a minimum 20 minute rest break if their working day is longer than six hours
• Adolescent workers are entitled to 12 hours consecutive rest per day, and a minimum 30 minute rest break if they work for longer than four and a half hours

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is the organisation that is responsible for the enforcement of health and safety law.

• If you are concerned about health or safety at work contact a health and safety representative at your workplace or the personnel officer
• Your employer has a responsibility by law to inform you of the steps taken for your health and safety
• As an employee you are also required by law to help your employer to provide a safe working environment

Risks for young workers

• The Health and Safety (Young Persons) Regulations 1997 require an employer to carry out a risk assessment before a young person under 18 is employed
• Young workers are seen as being particularly at risk because of inexperience, possible lack of awareness of existing or potential risks to their health and safety