A conference aiming to reduce the risk of ill-health and injury to young people in the workplace is being held by the STUC and the Health & Safety Executive in Glasgow tomorrow (Wednesday 25 October).
The event is part of the European Health and Safety Week focusing on young people this year. The joint conference will seek to raise awareness of health and safety issues and how, through sensible risk management, the safety of young workers can be properly managed and the risk of injury and long term ill health reduced.
Terry Anderson, STUC Union and Community Development Officer said
“Young workers are an often undervalued resource in workplaces and quite often little attention is paid to ensuring the transition from education to full or part time employment covers adequate health and safety induction and the need for ongoing training.
“The STUC is delighted that the HSE has joined with the STUC to arrange this conference and we are encouraged by the attendance from all age groups and employment sectors in Scotland including many from the voluntary sector with whom we have worked in the past.
“Approximately one hundred delegates are expected at the event and this is a clear indication that many employers and their young workers are rising to the challenge of European Health and Safety Week and taking steps to find out more about protecting the occupational health and safety of young workers.
Stewart Campbell, Director of the Health & Safety Executive in Scotland said:
“By raising awareness of important health and safety issues amongst young people we aim to help them start their working careers safely and prevent the beginnings of long term ill health. Many complaints such as back pain and respiratory disorders develop over a long period of time. By highlighting health and safety risks and good practice early in a person’s working life we hope that incidence rates will be reduced overall.
“I welcome this joint approach between the STUC and Health & Safety Executive and I am sure the conference will be valuable to delegates. If the young people who attend go on to raise awareness amongst their colleagues, and get involved in health and safety management, when they return to their workplaces it will be of great benefit to their own future and the future of their organisation.”
The Conference will take place at the STUC, 333 Woodlands Road Glasgow, G3 6NG commencing at 10.00am
ENDS
For further information please contact
Terry Anderson 0131 556 7319
Ian Tasker 0141 337 8100
HSE - Val Morgan 0131 244 9062