New course and qualification for young people unveiled

E108:06 3 November 2006

A new qualification designed to improve young people's understanding of safe working when taking part in work experience was showcased today.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in partnership with the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), British Safety Council Awards (BSC Awards) and ENTO today announced the new workplace hazard awareness course and qualification. The qualification and associated teaching materials are being previewed at an event organised by IOSH and attended by Minister for Health and Safety, Lord Hunt of Kings Heath at the Aston Hall Hotel, Sheffield.

Commenting on the preview, Jonathan Rees, HSE Deputy Chief Executive, said: "We believe in working in strong partnership and this new qualification is the perfect example of how HSE, government and industry can work together to ensure that tomorrow's workforce has a sound basis for understanding the hazards that confront us every day at work."

The course and qualification aims to provide Year 10 students with a basic understanding of health and safety in the workplace, so that they understand hazards, and what to expect of their employer. All schools in England will soon be notified about the qualification and course through Spectrum, newsletter for schools and website at: www.teachernet.gov.uk/

The Workplace Hazard Awareness Qualification at entry level 3 is based on the new national occupational standard for basic hazard awareness developed by ENTO. It allows students to demonstrate their awareness of workplace hazards and how they can prevent harm by supporting the delivery of:

• the general teaching requirement for health and safety in the National Curriculum; and
• the National Curriculum's non-statutory guidelines for Key Stage 4 for work-related learning which require students to be able to describe the main hazards associated with particular types of workplace.

Martin Shevill, Head teacher of Ossett School, Ossett, West Yorkshire, one of the schools that piloted the teaching materials, said, "This is a very positive development to ensure the safety of school students in the workplace. We are looking at the possibility of introducing this for students on extended work placements."

Teaching materials to support the qualification have been produced by IOSH and will be free to schools and colleges. The materials will be accessible for students to work online and have been piloted in schools in England to ensure they meet the needs of teachers and students.

Notes to editors

1. All schools in England will receive, through www.teachernet.gov.uk/ and their monthly DfES newsletter Spectrum, information on the Workplace Hazard Awareness teaching materials and qualification.
2. The workplace hazard awareness course teaching materials will be available for teachers to download for free from Wiseup2work in December. Teachers can register their interest at www.wiseup2work.co.uk.
3. The BSC Awards qualification has been accredited by QCA for 14-16 learning. Qualification details can be found on Open Quals (www.openquals.com).
4. HSE helped to coordinate this activity as part of its contribution to the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work's focus on young people in 2006.

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