In terms of the health and safety of young workers, there are two primary considerations for employers when it comes to reviewing their risk assessment:

1. How young people behave compared to more experienced workers
2. Preventing young people’s exposure to specific risks as they may be more vulnerable to harm.

Before a young person starts work, the employer’s risk assessment must take into account a young person’s lack of experience, training and awareness of risk as well as their immaturity.

Risk assessments need not be overly burdensome or bureaucratic, e.g. in an office or shop environment, the organisation’s generic risk assessment is likely to be sufficient and the control measures in place are likely to be familiar to young people. However, in higher-risk environments, consideration needs to be given to how young people may be influenced or pressured into unsafe work practices by older colleagues or peers, how they may be curious and act