Risk Assessments :    Basic Req’s    Young People    Dangerous Sub’s

This page aims to provide the reader with more detail on the legislative requirements for risk assessments where there are young people to be at the relevant premises.

Further information on our risk assessments may be found here.

Legislative Background

Since 1^st October 2006, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (“Fire Safety Order”) (for England & Wales) and the Fire Safety (Scotland) Regulations 2006 and the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 (for Scotland) have been in effect imposing drastic changes to the regulatory regime for fire safety.

Further information on legislation may be found here.

Risk Assessment Requirements - Young People

Where the legal duty holder employs (or is to employ) young people, the risk assessment must also include consideration of the following¹:

• the inexperience, lack of awareness of risks and immaturity of young persons;
• the fitting-out and layout of the premises;
• the nature, degree and duration of exposure to physical and chemical agents;
• the form, range, and use of work equipment and the way in which it is handled;
• the organisation of processes and activities;
• the extent of the safety training provided or to be provided to young persons; and
• risks from agents, processes and work listed in the Annex to Council Directive 94/33/EC[46] on the protection of young people at work

In addition to these requirements, The fire-safety risk assessments must meet the basic legislative requirements laid down and, where there are dangerous substances present, further considerations may also apply. More information on these subjects can be found by clicking these links, or in the section pages shown above, top right.

Footnotes & References

1. Article 9, paragraph (5) and Part 2 of Schedule 1 of the Fire Safety Order. Part 2, section 5 of the Fire Safety (Scotland) Regulations 2006.