Staff who wish to bring their children into their School / Institute / Department must first get the approval of their line manager and / or Head of School / Institute / Department. The child must be directly supervised by the staff member at all times. Furthermore, all local procedures and risk controls should be adhered to.

When apprenticeships are offered to people under the age of 18, the same level of duty for their health, safety and welfare applies as for all.

Furthermore, young persons may be unaware of how to raise concerns locally, so make sure this is part of their training. Please note, the relevant safeguarding officer for the faculty or professional services should be made aware of any safeguarding or H&S concerns raised by apprentices. Details of relevant safeguarding officers can be found here: https://www.qmul.ac.uk/student-experience/safeguarding/ You should also let the Staff Apprenticeship Manager know that you are raising a concern.

Apprentices should also undertake the mandatory health and safety modules online (Queen Mary Health and Safety Induction, Fire Safety Awareness and Workstation Assessment), details of which can be found here.

For staff managing apprentices

Any staff managing young persons should familiarise themselves with the safeguarding policy and training and complete the Safeguarding Essentials training on QMPlus.

Risk assessment

If you are employing a young person for the first time, or employing a young person with particular needs, you should review your risk assessments before they commence work.

You do not need to do a separate risk assessment for apprentices considered as young persons, as long as your existing assessment already considers the specific factors (see below) for young people.

Work in low-risk environments such as offices

In a low-risk environment, with everyday risks that will mostly be familiar to the young person, your existing arrangements covered within an office risk assessment should be sufficient. If you are unsure of your local arrangements, you should contact your local Safety Coordinator.

Work in unfamiliar and/or higher risk environments

For environments with risks less familiar to them, you should make arrangements to manage the risks. This should include induction, supervision, familiarisation with their working environment and any personal protective equipment needed.

Consider specific factors that must be managed for young people, including exposure to:

• Radiation
• Noise and vibration
• Toxic substances
• Extreme temperatures

Where these risks exist, they should already be managed and have control measures in place, however you should take into account exposure levels, ensuring that any legal limits are met, as these may vary for young persons.

You should also consider whether there are any legally required age limits on equipment or machinery (may apply to some woodworking machinery).

Unlike with children (under 16s), you do not need to communicate identified risks and controls to the parents/carers of the apprentice.

For further advice on risk assessment, liaise with your relevant H&S Manager or Adviser.

When work experience is offered to people under the age of 18, the same level of duty for their health, safety and welfare applies as for all employees. There will however, be a need to consider factors that increase their vulnerability to risk.

During work experience children and young persons should only be put into lower risk environments and must be given appropriate supervision. They should not enter any restricted areas identified by the Head of School / Directorate / Institute alone. Young persons may be allowed to enter a higher risk area as long as they are engaged in low risk activities (e.g. observation), are under direct personal supervision by a competent person, and are not exposed to hazards arising from the activities or location.

Consideration should also be given to specific restrictions under employment and health and safety law. Any risks that are specific to or increased for young persons must be considered in the risk assessment. These risks and any potential health effects should be communicated to the individual as well as their parent / guardian / school prior to them commencing work. Prohibited activities for children and young persons includes work which:

• exposes them to substances chronically harmful to health e.g. toxic, carcinogenic, mutagens, pathogens or exposure to radiation (ionising or non-ionising)
• is beyond their physical or psychological capacity
• exposure to extreme cold, heat, noise or vibration
• Involves a risk of accidents which they cannot reasonably be expected to recognise or avoid due to their inexperience and/or lack of training or attention to safety.

Further information in relation work experience is available on the HSE’s website.

For further guidance on restricted activities, liaise with your relevant H&S Manager or Adviser.

Where planned events involve children or young persons, a risk assessment should be conducted. Supervision should be in place in line with recommended child to adult ratios laid out below: 

Source: Department for Education and Employment – A good practice guide

Group leaders should be given written instructions by the Host / Responsible Person outlining the following information in relation to the building(s) they are visiting: 

• the emergency evacuation procedures
• the location of the emergency assembly point
• the name and contact number of the Host / Responsible Person
• Identifying areas of the building to which access is restricted or prohibited.

The group leaders must: 

• Have a list the names of each member of the group;
• Obey any instruction given by the Head of School / Institute / Directorate or their representative (Host / Responsible Person);
• Only enter those areas of the building indicated as being safe by the Head of Department or their representative.

Further information on Event Safety is available here.

Young persons may be enrolled onto courses at Queen Mary, however consideration should be given to additional supervision. Furthermore, the requirements of the under 18s admission policy must be followed.

All adults who may end up in a 1:1 situation with a Child or Young Person, and adults who will have significant unsupervised access to Children, must undergo enhanced disclosure by the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).  Reference should be made to QMUL Safeguarding Policy for those who may be working alone with children, and also to the procedure to be followed following a safeguarding complaint.

If an accident does occur when a child or young person is on campus then it should be reported to Health and Safety Directorate by telephone, followed by completion of the Accident / Incident Form.

Due to the open nature of Queen Mary campuses, it is possible that children who are not invited will enter the premises. Where children are seen without an accompanying adult, then Queen Mary Security should be informed immediately by dialing 0207 882 3333.

Queen Mary’s public liability insurance would normally cover costs of accidents & incidents to Children / Young Persons on its premises, but liability could be denied if supervision and/or health and safety procedures were considered to be inadequate. For further information on insurance click here.