Health and Safety (Children) (Hansard, 24 February 1994)

§ Mrs. Clwyd
To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what assessment he has made of surveys on the percentage of school-age children in employment who have been involved in some form of accident at work.

§ Mr. Michael Forsyth
[holding answer 18 February 1994]: I am aware of one small survey of children in Birmingham, which is unrepresentative of the country as a whole. The survey report makes no distinction between minor cuts and bruises and serious accidents which should be reported to the enforcing authorities.

§ Mrs. Clwyd
To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what information is available concerning the number of accidents involving children of school-age in employment.

§ Mr. Michael Forsyth
[holding answer 18 February 1994]: The following tables show injuries to employed young people aged under 16—the statutory minimum school leaving age—reported to the Health and Safety Executive's factory and agricultural inspectorates and to local authorities under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1985. Over 80 per cent. of the accidents were to 15-year-olds, some of whom will have left school. There were 46 reports of accidents to children aged 10 to 14 in the six-year period shown.
391W

Industry 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 ¹1992–93

Wholesale distribution 2 2 1 1 1 —

Retail distribution 17 20 17 16 6 8

Hotels and Catering 2 2 1 7 1 3

Repair of consumer goods and vehicles 1 — 3 1 2 1

Transport and communication 1 2 2 — — —

Banking, finance and business services — — — 2 — —

Other services 8 5 12 7 8 7

Unclassified — — 2 1 2 1

TOTAL 51 58 59 58 30 36

¹provisional.

Injuries to employees¹ aged under 16 reported to HSE's factory and agricultural inspectorates and local authorities, 1987–88 to 1992–93 (provisional)—by severity of injury

Year Fatal Major² Over three day³ Total

1987–88 1 22 28 51

1988–89 — 19 39 58

1989–90 1 25 33 59

1990–91 — 17 41 58

1991–92 — 13 17 30

1992–93⁴ 1 10 25 36

¹ Including trainees.

² Injuries which require a stay in hospital of over 24 hours.

³ Injuries which cause absence from work for more than three days.

⁴ Provisional.

Industry	1987–88	1988–89	1989–90	1990–91	1991–92	¹1992–93
Wholesale distribution	2	2	1	1	1	—
Retail distribution	17	20	17	16	6	8
Hotels and Catering	2	2	1	7	1	3
Repair of consumer goods and vehicles	1	—	3	1	2	1
Transport and communication	1	2	2	—	—	—
Banking, finance and business services	—	—	—	2	—	—
Other services	8	5	12	7	8	7
Unclassified	—	—	2	1	2	1
TOTAL	51	58	59	58	30	36
¹provisional.

Injuries to employees¹ aged under 16 reported to HSE's factory and agricultural inspectorates and local authorities, 1987–88 to 1992–93 (provisional)—by severity of injury
Year	Fatal	Major²	Over three day³	Total
1987–88	1	22	28	51
1988–89	—	19	39	58
1989–90	1	25	33	59
1990–91	—	17	41	58
1991–92	—	13	17	30
1992–93⁴	1	10	25	36
¹ Including trainees.
² Injuries which require a stay in hospital of over 24 hours.
³ Injuries which cause absence from work for more than three days.
⁴ Provisional.