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Under Health & Safety Law, anyone who is under the age of 18 is classed as a Young Person in the workplace. This means that their Employer must consider this demographic of Employee in their risk assessment process and ensure that if required specific control measures are identified & implemented. The same process needs to be considered for those below minimum school leaving age i.e. temporary Work Experience Employees. Mark Wheeldon (Chartered Safety & Health Practitioner) of Practical Compliance Today Ltd stressed "the employment of Young Persons and those on Work Experience is not a problem in the Health & Safety world. Many people see this as creating lots of red tape and that is simply not the case. Risk assessments will need to identify if the Employee's age results in a different risk level and if further controls are required."

The Health & Safety Executive have updated their guidance on this matter to help Employers take proactive steps to protect Young People in the workplace: http://www.hse.gov.uk/youngpeople/index.htm?ebul=hsegen&cr=1/21-oct-13