Safety programme starts training in school

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Aug 9, 2007

The BSC's drive for improved safety is targeted at the period during the crucial transition between school and work.

Thousands of young people will enter the workplace with a firm grasp of important health and safety issues thanks to high take-up by schools of a new vocational qualification from the British Safety Council (BSC).

The BSC's drive for improved safety during the crucial transition between school and work comes as the government launches a consultation aimed at helping society to strike the right balance between protecting children and allowing them to learn and explore safely.

Launching the Staying Safe consultation, Children's Minister Ed Balls said: "Childhood is changing".

"We want everyone in society to take responsibility for helping children and young people to stay safe".

"This does not mean interfering in other people's lives but does mean accepting a collective responsibility for children's safety and welfare so that every child and young person can make the most of new opportunities and develop their potential to the full".

The BSC qualification dovetails with the government's intentions.

It forms part of a three-way initiative with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) to help keep young people healthy and safe on work experience and in their first job.

With over 14,500 major injuries to under-19s at work in the last decade, the commitment by schools to help prepare students for the day to day hazards they will face in working life is a major step forward in reducing the number of accidents to young employees.

Over 850 schools have already indicated their intention to participate with 400 having already registered to offer the BSC's Entry Level Award in Workplace Hazard Awareness.

The furthest flung enquiry has come from the Headteacher of Two Boats School in Two Boats Village on Ascension Island - who hopes to enter 16 pupils, the children of members of the British Forces.

A total of 8587 candidates have already been registered by schools to undertake the programme of study when they return to school in September.

The BSC is hoping that over 50,000 pupils will achieve the qualification in 2007/2008.

The course provides students with crucial knowledge of some of the health and safety hazards they are likely to encounter when they embark on work experience or their first job.

It not only helps keep them safe at a particularly vulnerable time, but also re-inforces the government's aim to provide personalised learning for every child.

For the thousands of secondary school pupils not going on to university, a qualification that can prove to a potential employer that they have common sense, motivation and a sense of pride in what they do, will make them more employable.

Adam Skeens, the BSC's Director of Qualifications, said: "We are delighted by the response and especially that youngsters in such far-flung locations like the Ascension Islands are set to benefit from this qualification".

"The strong interest shown by UK schools is also very pleasing and links directly to our objective of reducing the number of injuries to young workers".