§ Mr. ClaphamTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what initiatives 453W are being taken by the Health and Safety Executive and his Department to increase health and safety awareness among young workers. [119596]
§ Mr. MeacherMy Department fully supports the current programme of the Health and Safety Commission and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to make young people aware of health and safety risks in preparation for work from an early age. HSE is collaborating with the Department for Education and Employment in embedding health and safety throughout the education system and has recently published guidance for organisers of work experience. Research is planned into the particular problems of young people new to work and the most effective means of communicating with them. HSE continues to work with organisations such as the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents and the TUC in initiatives to get messages across to young people at, or about to start, work.
§ Mr. ClaphamTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many people under the age of 25 years have been killed or seriously injured at work in the last year for which figures are available. [119595]
§ Mr. MeacherProvisional data for 1998–991 as reported to all enforcing authorities are set out in the table. This excludes 86 fatalities and 5,329 major injuries where the age of the injured person was not recorded.
Fatal injuries Non-fatal or major injuries2 Employees 20 3,845 Self employed 1 42 Members of the public3 80 13,067 Total 101 16,954 1Data are for 1 April 1998 to 31 March 1999 2As defined by the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995, according to the employment status of the injured person 3Included suicides and trespassers on railways