Firms urged to consider safety during work experience placements

Businesses have been urged to put extra safety measures in place before they take on students for work placements.

Health and safety experts Croner acknowledged that work experience can be a great introduction to a specific industry or the world of employment for school or university students, Online Recruitment reports. However, it warned that those on placements are likely to face unfamiliar risks, meaning employers have to be extra vigilant on health and safety.

The firm recommended that businesses conduct a risk assessment and consider the layout of the workplace, the equipment being used and the training requirements.

'Young people will be facing unfamiliar risks from the job they will be doing and so will need more guidance, adequate training and closer supervision,' Stephen Thomas, a Health and Safety Expert at Croner, said.

Although this may seem like extra work for employers, the Forum of Private Business suggests that it will pay off, as young people on work placements can bring technical skills and energy to the job.