Young people at work and the law

What do you need to know about health and safety law that applies to young people at work?

This part of the site provides guidelines on the law as it applies to young people at work and on work experience. For authorative information, follow the links in the text to the specific guidance and refer to the relevant legislation. The new HSE legislation site provides information on the range of health and safety legislation that applies to workplaces in Great Britain.

Important definitions concerning young people and children

Health and safety law defines people by age:

• a young person is anyone under eighteen years of age (young people);
• a child is anyone who is not over compulsory school age. He or she has not yet reached the official age at which they may leave school, also referred to as the minimum school leaving age (MSLA). (NB the oldest pupils of compulsory school age, those born in September for example, may be as old as 16 years and 10 months in year 11 before they leave school on the last Friday in June.)

The law on working time defines a young worker as being below 18 years of age and above the MSLA.

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• Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974
• Managing Health and Safety at Work
• Employee and safety representatives
• Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences (RIDDOR)
• Child employment
• Work experience
• Employers’ Liability Compulsory Insurance
• Working hours, rest from work and paid annual holidays
• Prohibitions and limitations

Related sites

• Legislation