Health & Safety
Ensuring that best practice is followed in terms of Health and safety issues is an essential part of the work experience process.
All work experience staff at EBP West Berks are fully trained and have completed an IOSH Managing Safely course before carrying out any Health & Safety visits.
Staff also complete in house training after the IOSH course to ensure all knowledge is kept up to date and best practice adhered to. We visit all work placements used on a regular basis, according to their risk banding as follows:
- High risk - 1 year
- Medium risk - 2 years
- Low risk - 3 years
However, if the company moves premises, the work experience contact changes or if we have received feedback that is not positive we will make an additional visit. We will also undertake, where necessary, separate visits whenever students with special needs are placed with a company.
The reason for visiting is to ensure the environment is suitable and safe for students. During the initial Health & Safety visit, EBP staff complete a questionnaire with the member of staff responsible for hosting the students. The following areas are addressed:
- Hours of work, dress code, welfare arrangements e.g. breaks
- Duties the student will undertake
- General H&S policies, ensuring the supervisor is aware of their responsibilities to students, first aid, fire procedures, emergency arrangements etc.
- Equipment the student can or cannot use.
- Insurance and risk assessments - see below
- The employer is then asked to sign the form
Any company we visit that we do not feel can provide a suitable environment for the student would not be used.
Insurance
All employers taking students on work experience must have full Employers & Public Liability Insurance - without this the placement cannot go ahead. EBP must see the certificate at the H&S visit.
Risk Assessment
All employers are asked to complete a risk assessment taking into account the student's age and immaturity. Parents have the right to be made aware of the risks to their sons/daughters.
Usually a risk assessment will be sent to the student with the details of their placement. However, there are occasions where the student will be given a copy of the company risk assessment when they start the placement, and in some circumstances the student will be advised of the risks verbally.
Students are given H&S information and training before they start their placement. We also ask employers to inform us immediately should any accident/incident occur to the student.