Health and Safety of Children at Work Regulations
- April 8th, 2010
The Health and Safety of Children at Work regulations were promulgated on the 15th of January 2010 and subsequently added to the list of existing regulations in the Occupational Health and Safety Act, Act 85 of 1993.
The Health and Safety of Children at Work regulations address many previously neglected areas of concern regarding minors in the working environment.
After reading through and studying the new regulations, I have some questions:
- What happens during the school holidays when children are brought to the working environment and do odd jobs - who approved this and if not - how is this regulated?
- School children may not work for more than 20 hours per week during school terms and 40 hours per week during school holidays - how do you monitor these hours?
- Does your insurance cover this extra risk on site?
- Have you informed your employees (who are the parents of the children) been informed about the hazards and risks pertaining to their children in the work environment and the possible implications?
- During school holidays, does your organisation offer a child care facility at work and have you considered the legal implications?
You can read my article and comments on the new Health and Safety of Children at Work regulations here.
5 Responses to “Health and Safety of Children at Work Regulations”
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Safety of Woman In The Working Environment
Woman in the working environment has become a more prominent force over the past decade due to factors such as employment equity and gender equality issues, to mention a few examples.
This means that we need to cater additionally for more conditions exclusive to the female population.
A few examples that spring to mind are:
Pregnancy including breast feeding (before and after the child is born)
Child care facilities on and off the site
Sleep deprivation and the impact on productivity and safety
Child emergencies while the mother is at work
School holidays and children at home or daycare
Juggling a variety of portfolios in one day such as mother, business woman, educator, nurse, wife, psychologist, nutritionist, etc.
Moving up in the career-path development process and additional stress
That time of the month
Facilities such as SHE bins in the female ablution areas
Feelings of guilt because you are working and not at home with children
Me time
We are going to discuss some of these issues further:
Pregnancy and related topics
During the first nine months of carrying the unborn child there are many factors that the mother (employee) and child can be exposed to such as chemicals, noise, radiation, stress or incidents on site.
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April 12th, 2010 at 9:52 pm
hi there.
please help me out….
im 23 and passionate about health and safety, is there a degree i can do part time as im working as a safety officer? what is the best possible path you would suggest?
April 15th, 2010 at 1:03 pm
Hi Gareth
We NEED PASSIONATE people in H&S. I have forwarded the options for further development to you. Good luck and I hope I meet you soon.
Regards Christel.
June 10th, 2010 at 1:54 pm
Christel
You have raised valid questions there. I believe the legislature have leave it up to the employers to apply self regulation within the scope of the legislation. So companies have to fill the caps in legislation with procedures.
June 24th, 2010 at 2:56 pm
Safety of children at work either than child labour is a big problem in our country and in all african countries. The intend of the OSH act is not to make employers to choose either to have minors in their factories / plant / area of work, but not to allow any body ( person under the priscibed age) as per lagislation. So guys employers have a choice of compling with the act or face prosecution.
July 2nd, 2010 at 12:33 pm
Hi Henry
Thank you for the comment - it does not refer to child labour but the protection of the following groups on your site:
1. children between the ages of 15 - 17 who dropped out of school and is now emploable
2. children of your employees who can not stay at home during the school holidays and are on site
3. children that are doing holiday work for short periods of time
They still need to be protected. Regards Christel.