Please note that you must inform your local Public Engagement team if you are planning on hosting a work experience placement. The contact details are as follows:
Part of the STFC’s mission is to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers, and in this context actively encourages Work Experience student placements. While adults/staff are very familiar with the work environment for young people/students the workplaces that we take for granted can be hazardous places – especially workshops and laboratories. Under Health and Safety legislation very specific care must be taken with respect to the health and safety of young persons/students and in particular children. Children are defined as those under the Minimum School Leaving Age – the school year in which they turn 16.
As a manager responsible for a Work Experience student you are responsible for their health and safety and ensuring they are suitably supervised at all times. As with all work activities you will need to consider the health and safety hazards and how they will be controlled. A documented Risk assessment must be undertaken for all work experience students.
SHE Group have established template work experience student risk assessments to cover those working in Offices and those working in Laboratories/Workshops. These templates provide a start for you, as their manager, to consider the particular hazards that your student will be exposed to, and must be edited and personalised for the student and work planned. The risk assessments for children should be reviewed and approved by your local SHE advisor.
There are very particular constraints on the exposure of young people and children to ionising radiation, these are detailed in SHE code 29: Management of ionising radiation at work and in particular Appendix 12. Where any work has the potential to involve exposure to ionising radiation the advice of your site Radiation Protection Advisor (RPA) or Radiation Protection Officer (RPO) should be sought for the risk assessment prior to the student’s arrival. In addition to SHE Group such risk assessments will need to be reviewed and approved by the relevant RPA/RPO.
If, as part of your student’s placement, you would like to take them into a facility where ionising radiation hazards exist as part of a routine visit/tour please contact your RPA/RPO for advice, for ISIS a template Risk Assessment for such tours has been established.
Please recognise that approval for these risk assessments can take time and you should endeavour to provide these well before your student arrives on site.
Further advice and guidance on student risk assessments can be provided by your local SHE Group and assistance with planning and organising your work experience student’s placement from the Public Engagement team.
