Cumbria Students Workplace Safety Warning

Students across Cumbria taking on seasonal work in the run up to Christmas are being warned about bosses who turn a blind eye to safety.
 
More than 2,000* students across the city are at risk of being injured while at work because of sloppy health and safety practices, according to the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL)
 
Carlisle solicitor and APIL member Sue Chappell said she has heard horror stories about young people being seriously injured because bosses have failed to put safety at the top of the agenda.  "Around 13,000 young workers are injured every year in the UK - that's a young worker injured every 40 minutes.
 
"Problems can stem from a lack of time and investment in proper health and safety training, or inexperienced workers being given jobs beyond their capabilities," she said.
 
"But young workers have rights, and these include the right to be trained in how to carry out their jobs safely, and the right to refuse work which could put their health and safety in danger."
 
Sue, a solicitor at Carlisle firm Burnetts, says many young workers are often too afraid to stand up for their rights, even when they are asked to carry out jobs which are potentially dangerous.
 
"Young people sometimes do not have the confidence to say no to their employer, or even question what they are being asked to do," she says. "But employers have a duty to ensure young workers are not put at risk - ignoring that duty can have tragic consequences."
 
Sue has seen first hand the devastating effects of poor health and safety practices, having advised one young client  who was badly burnt while working in the summer holidays at a local  factory.
 
"There was a lack of communication about what my client should and shouldn't do in the course of his job," says Sue.  "He suffered severe burns as a result of using equipment he later discovered he should not have been operating without proper training and adequate safety clothing. He is left with extensive scarring."
As many of Carlisle's students will  now undertaking holiday work, APIL is urging youngsters to speak up if all is not well.
 
Sue says "We want young workers to be aware of dangers and recognise that they do have rights, even if they are only working a few hours a week in the run up to Christmas.
 
"All bosses who employ young workers should be aware of their responsibilities," she says. "More importantly, youngsters mustn't be afraid to speak up if they are in any doubt."
 
8th December, 2006
 
Note to editors:
 
* APIL was set up in 1990 by a small group of solicitors who wanted to provide a voice for injured people, and is now a recognised voice within Government and other organisations.  APIL's SafetyWatch campaign aims to highlight potential hazards to people in order to prevent injury.  Visit www.apil.com
 
* Number of students in Carlisle: 2,417 (source: www.statistics.gov.uk)
 
* Approximately 13,000 young workers are injured each year in the UK (source: www.hazards.org - report titled "Too young to die."