Checklist for employing young persons safely

Before employing a young person

If you employ or plan to employ anyone under 18, you have additional legal duties under Regulation 19 of MHSWR 1999. Young workers face higher risks due to inexperience, immaturity, and lack of awareness of hazards. Use this checklist to ensure you meet your obligations.

Young workers - special risk assessment requirements

Additional risk assessment requirements when employing workers under 18.

The law requires specific risk assessment considerations for young workers (under 18). Young people may face higher risks due to inexperience, immaturity, and lack of awareness of hazards.

Definition: "Young worker" means under 18. "Child" means under minimum school leaving age (end of school year when they turn 16)
Additional assessment factors: Inexperience, lack of awareness, physical and psychological immaturity
Prohibited work (under 18): Certain hazardous work banned - lead processes, ionising radiation above limits, work with dangerous machinery
Work hours (16-17): Maximum 8 hours per day, 40 hours per week. Must have 12 hours rest between shifts.
Night work (16-17): Generally prohibited between 10pm-6am (or 11pm-7am in certain sectors)
Parent notification: Must inform parent/carer of risks and controls before child worker starts

Young people at work (opens in a new tab)

Definition check

Confirmed whether the person is a young person (under 18) or a child (under compulsory school leaving age)
If employing a child, checked local authority requirements for child employment permits

Risk assessment (Regulation 19)

Specific risk assessment completed before the young person starts work
Assessment considers inexperience, lack of awareness of risks, and immaturity
Assessment considers the fitting out and layout of the workplace
Assessment considers the nature, degree and duration of exposure to physical, biological, and chemical agents
Assessment considers the form, range and use of work equipment
Assessment considers the organisation of processes and activities
Assessment considers the extent of health and safety training to be provided

Prohibited work (Regulation 19(3))

Confirmed the work is not beyond the young person's physical or psychological capacity
Confirmed no harmful exposure to toxic, carcinogenic, or mutagenic agents
Confirmed no harmful exposure to lead or asbestos
Confirmed no harmful exposure to ionising radiation
Confirmed no exposure to extreme temperatures, noise, or vibration
Confirmed no work involving risks from accidents that the young person is unlikely to recognise due to inexperience

Parent notification and working hours

If employing a child, parent or carer informed of risk assessment findings and control measures before work starts
Working hours comply with legal limits (16-17 year olds: max 8 hours per day, 40 hours per week)
Rest periods provided (16-17 year olds: 12 hours between working days, 2 days rest per week)
Night work restrictions observed (generally prohibited between 10pm and 6am for 16-17 year olds)

Training and supervision

Adequate induction training provided before work begins
Training adapted for the young person's age and experience level
Appropriate supervision arranged, especially during initial period
Young person knows how to report hazards and who to ask for help
Emergency procedures explained and understood

Legal basis

Primary legislation and key regulations

Employment Rights Act 1996 Primary 1996 · UK-wide Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 SI 1999 · UK-wide WTR 1998 SI 1998 · UK-wide

Browse UK legislation legislation.gov.uk

Official guidance

HSE - Young people at work (opens in a new tab)

HSE

MHSWR 1999 Regulation 19 (legislation.gov.uk) (opens in a new tab)

legislation

HSENI website (opens in a new tab)

GOV.UK

Checklist for employing young persons safely

Before employing a young person

Definition check

Risk assessment (Regulation 19)

Prohibited work (Regulation 19(3))

Parent notification and working hours

Training and supervision

Legal basis

Official guidance

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