The Scottish Trades Union Congress has expressed concern following an article in Hazards Magazine that shows employers are failing to protect younger workers in our society.
Ian Tasker, STUC Health and Safety Officer said
“Employers in Scotland have to recognise their legal obligations young workers and an increase of 800 young workers suffering fatal and major workplace injuries in five years is totally unacceptable”.
“There is a mistaken perception that injuries suffered by younger workers are as a result of clowning around but this is purely a smokescreen to cover the inadequate training being given to young people embarking on their careers”.
“Throughout Scotland as young people open their exam results around 50000 will embark on some form of employment in the coming year either on a full or part-time basis. In the absence of proper protection being given to the most inexperienced of workers our fear is that this increasing trend of exposing young people to risk can only continue”.
“Young people quite rightly welcome the financial independence that first employment brings but all too often this comes at a cost that is not worth paying. The death of any worker is a tragedy but when that death involves the loss of a life at a young age this is particularly difficult for those left behind”.
“The STUC is currently finalizing arrangement for a series of school visits and these figures emphasize the need for us to ensure young people understand and recognize workplace hazards before entering the workplace”.
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For further information contact Ian Tasker 0141 337 8100
NOTES TO EDITORS: - The full report, 'Too young to die', is available pre-embargo at: www.hazards.org/2young2die It will appear in Hazards, number 94, Summer 2006. - Report author Rory O'Neill is editor of Hazards and a senior researcher with Stirling University's Occupational and Environmental Health Research Group. - Hazards magazine is published quarterly. For subscription enquiries or orders contact Jawad Qasrawi on 0114 201 4265 sub@hazards.org
