07/09/2007 - Headlines - Health and Safety
Increasing number of children injured at work
More than 100 children aged 15 and under have been injured while working outside school over the past four years, it was revealed this week.Among the 103 hurt were a 15-year-old boy from Rochdale who lost his arm in a butcher's shop accident and a boy aged 14 who lost his hand in a mincing machine at a butcher's shop in Stafford.
Liberal Democrats called for the streamlining of legislation on the employment of children, warning that thousands more may be at risk because of outdated laws.
Local authorities are required to issue work permits for employers wishing to employ children to ensure the workplace is safe. However, Lib Dem children's spokeswoman Annette Brooke said that without any Government guidance officials are forced to navigate over 200 pieces of legislation - the main piece dating back to the 1930s. Many children are left without protection, she said.
An interdepartmental review of all legislation designed to protect children from exploitation at work, announced by the Government six years ago, had not resulted in any action, claimed Ms Brooke.
'Tip of the iceburg'
A recent report by the TUC suggested that up to 2.6 million 11-15 year olds will have been employed at some point. It found that nine out of 10 children were not working with the required permit as required by law.
Figures released by work and pensions minister Anne McGuire in response to a Parliamentary question from Ms Brooke showed that 34 children aged up to 15 years were injured at work in 2005/06, compared to 23 in 2004/05, 29 in 2003/04 and 17 in 2002/03.
Ms Brooke said: "It is extremely disturbing that increasing numbers of children are being injured while working. Sadly these figures may only represent the tip of the iceberg, as many children are not working in registered workplaces.
"Undertaking some form of limited work while still at school can be an excellent way for young people to learn new skills and earn some money, but it is essential that workplaces are suitable and safe for children."
She added: "Thousands of children may be working in unsafe environments because councils and business are unable to make sense of the myriad of rules concerning the employment of young people.
"Ministers should stop dithering and act to modernise the outdated morass of laws that cover children in employment."